Kia has increased the prices of its hybrid vehicles in Pakistan by up to Rs1.2m after the government raised the sales tax applicable to hybrid models.
The latest price revisions affect several variants of the Kia Sportage L and Sorento, with increases ranging from Rs900,000 to Rs1.2m.
According to the latest information, the price changes reflect the higher tax burden rather than an increase in the manufacturers’ underlying prices.
New prices of Kia hybrid vehicles
The price of the Kia Sportage L 1.6T FWD HEV has increased by Rs900,000, rising from Rs11.299m to Rs12.199m.
The Sportage L 1.6T AWD HEV has seen a larger increase of Rs1.059m, taking its price from Rs12.240m to Rs13.299m.
The Kia Sorento 1.6T FWD HEV is now priced at Rs16.299m, compared with its previous price of Rs15.299m.
The Sorento 1.6T AWD HEV has recorded the largest increase among the variants with a previously listed price. Its price has risen by Rs1.2m, from Rs16.699m to Rs17.899m.
Kia has also listed a price of Rs18.999m for the Sorento 1.6T AWD PHEV. No previous price was provided for comparison.
The changes follow an increase in the sales tax on hybrid vehicles to 25%, from previous rates of 8.5% or 12.75%, according to the information provided.
The tax increase has prompted several car manufacturers in Pakistan to revise prices of their hybrid models.
Toyota, Honda, Chery, Suzuki and Hyundai are among other manufacturers that have announced price adjustments following the changes.
The latest increases are likely to add to the cost of hybrid vehicles for Pakistani consumers at a time when higher taxes and rising vehicle prices are already putting pressure on the automotive market.
For buyers, the revised prices mean that some hybrid models now cost more than Rs1m above their previous listed prices, with the impact varying according to the vehicle and variant.
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