Suzuki to halt car and bike production in January 2023 due to parts shortage

Following in the footsteps of Toyota Indus Motor Company (IMC), Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) has said that its production facility will be totally shut down from January 2 to 6, as a result of a ban on the import of auto parts.

The automaker, in a notice sent to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), said that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has introduced a mechanism for prior approval for import under “HS code 8703 category (including completely knocked down – CKDs) vide circular No.09 of 2022 dated May 20, 2022”.

“Restrictions had adversely impacted clearance of import consignment which resultantly affected the inventory levels.”

“Therefore, due to shortage of inventory level, the management of the company has decided to shut down its plant for the automobile as well as a motorcycle for the period from January 2 to January 6, 2023,” PSMC said.

It is important to note that this is not the first time that Suzuki, one of the country’s top-selling automakers, has closed a production facility. Several shutdowns have already been announced in 2022 by some well-known automakers, including Honda and Toyota.

PSMC is involved in the assembly, progressive manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of Suzuki vehicles, pickup trucks, vans, 4x4s, motorcycles, and associated spare parts.

According to Geo, due to the central bank’s limits on the opening of letters of credit (LCs) as a result of a severe liquidity crunch, Pakistan’s car sector, which is heavily dependent on imports, is currently experiencing serious difficulties.