KARACHI: Master Changan Motors Limited (MCML) is gearing up to debut its first all-electric vehicle brand, Deepal (S07 SUV and L07 Sedan), in Pakistan in the near future, as per a reliable source.
While the company hasn’t officially confirmed this, a high-ranking official hinted at the possibility of an EV launch without disclosing specific models. Operating under the Vast Ocean Plan, Changan, MCML’s parent company, has unveiled three distinct EV brands – Avatr, Deepal, and Nevo – tailored for various customer segments.
MCML’s Sales and Marketing Director, Syed Shabbiruddin, revealed plans to introduce one of these pure electric vehicle brands in Pakistan soon. Insider information indicates that MCML is in the final stages of rolling out the Deepal S07, a mid-size crossover SUV, and the Deepal L07, a fast-back sports sedan, manufactured by Deepal, Changan’s electric vehicle subsidiary since 2023. Changan, in collaboration with Huawei and CATL, has developed an EV-first platform, having recently launched the Deepal L07 sedan and Deepal S07 SUV in Thailand, a market similar to Pakistan’s right-hand drive system.
Shabbiruddin expressed confidence in the immense growth potential of EVs, citing factors like the burgeoning young population’s demand for cars, an estimated additional demand of 360,000 vehicles by 2030, and the declining cost of EV batteries, expected to plummet below $99/kWh by 2027. Nevertheless, he acknowledged hurdles in Pakistan’s EV landscape, such as the auto policy’s classification based on battery capacity and price regulations at charging stations, which deter investment in charging infrastructure. To surmount these challenges, Shabbiruddin proposed revising the classification criteria, incentivizing all types of pure EVs to foster local employment and catalyze EV adoption across Pakistan.
