A decade or two ago, Pakistani consumers viewed Chinese car manufacturers through a lens of skepticism, often associating them with poor build quality and reliability issues. Back then, the market was dominated by three major Japanese brands, which held a strong reputation for quality and dependability.

Now, it’s 2024, and things have turned upside down. Chinese manufacturers are showing really great performance, and these Chinese luxury cars give strong competition to any German brand in terms of built quality, hi-tech goodies, and a premium feel, just for the price tag of Civic RS or Santa Fe.

One more thing we can say for sure: under the 7-10 million package, Chinese cars offer the best value-for-money deal that no Korean or Japanese brand can offer.

Let’s see and have a look at how these Chinese luxury cars are winning the market of Pakistan.

Chinese Know Pakistani People’s Need

It seems like Chinese manufacturers do proper R&D before launching any car in Pakistan. They strategically bring models that Pakistani people will like and need.

Unlike international markets, where cars are considered a practical mode of transportation from point A to B, in Pakistan, they’re considered a status symbol.

See the Civic, for example. Worldwide, it’s just a budget-friendly car intended to get you from point A to B without fuss. In Pakistan, it’s a symbol of wealth; if you got a brand new Civic RS, you must be an elite or upper-class person.

Chinese know that. They strategically offer those models that look premium in looks and don’t look like middle-class family cars, and for that reason, they do a good amount on their section, not just copy-pasting German cars like they used to do in the past. 

For instance, GWM spent about $1.8 billion in 2022 just on R&D for the design and development of its cars. This shows how seriously these Chinese manufacturers take their cars’ R&D.

German Luxury in Civic’s Price

If you have a 9.8 million budget, you have two best options: the Civic RS and Haval Jolion. Now, we’re not getting biased toward any brand, but it’s a fact that the features and built quality that Jolion offers, Civic can’t.

Sit inside both cars and feel-wise, both cars are a class apart. Haval’s interior is made of soft-touch leather, and the center console is made of aluminum. The seats are also super ergonomic, like a sofa. And of course, it’s a proper crossover; don’t forget that.

Civic, however, is major plastic on the door trims and dashboard. The seats are good, but Jolion’s seats are great. 

But, of course, in the real world, other things also matter. Jolion, being packed with hi-tech goodies, has more chances of a breakdown, just like a BMW and Range Rover. Civic, on the other hand, is Japanese R&D, so it only consists of those things that are necessary and, hence, fewer breakdowns, and it’s a car that is made to last for decades. 

But, at first glance, Jolion is way better in looks and interior, and that’s the fact! 

Not just Jolion, other cars like HS, H6, Cherry Tiggo 8 Pro, and Oshan X7 are also some cars that look glamorous in the looks and have solid built-quality.

Chinese Focus on Looks and Styles

If you look into the design language of Chinese cars, you’ll notice they lean towards the elite and luxury side. Although their engines are tiny, inside the cabin, all leather wraps, aluminum center consoles with shiny crystal-like knobs, and many other tiny details that will make you look like you’re sitting in a lavish upper-segment 2-3 crore car (if you hide the logo on steering.) Not just Jolion. take other cars, for example, including HS, Jolion, and Tiggo 4 & 8; they all look to follow the same design language.

Good Customer Support 

Chinese car manufacturers have focused on localizing parts, heavily reducing production costs, and ultimately making luxury vehicles more affordable for Pakistani consumers. By assembling vehicles within Pakistan, these brands cut down on import duties and FBR taxes, eventually making the end product much cheaper than if you import it from Dubai, Japan, or Germany. 

Local assembly also enhances supply chain efficiency, ensuring faster availability of spare parts and quicker service responses. This, in turn, addresses a major concern among Pakistani car buyers—access to service and parts. Therefore, instead of spending 2-3 crores on a German brand and getting the headache of importing parts with no official service support, Chinese cars only charge 50% of them + better spare parts availability and official customer support.