Dewan Farooque Motors Limited (DFML) has just announced its plans to kickstart the local assembly operations of Kia commercial vehicles in Pakistan. Their first locally assembled product will be Kia Shehzore which will be launched in 2024.
In a notice sent to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), DFML expressed its dedication to providing people with high-quality vehicles and after-sales services through a comprehensive nationwide dealership network. Bear in mind the company signed a Technical License Agreement (TLA) with KIA Corporation (Commercial), Republic of Korea, for the assembly/manufacturing of commercial vehicles in November 2022.
DFML had multiple stints in Pakistan, it first introduced locally assembled Kia & Hyundai vehicles in the late 1990s & 2000s utilizing its state-of-the-art facility in Sajawal, Sindh. After vanishing from the picture in 2008, the company made a comeback in 2018 with the launch of the Daehan Shehzore commercial pickup and was in the process of introducing SsangYong vehicles in Pakistan but the chapter was again closed abruptly.
Related: Then vs Now: Hyundai Shehzore aka Porter H100
Regarding the Shehzore nameplate, it was a brainchild of Dewan Motors. Interestingly when Hyundai-Nishat intended to introduce the new 4th-gen Porter pickup in Pakistan in 2018, it got into a dispute with Dewan since the latter had already launched a Daehan pickup under the Shehzore moniker. Hyundai was not happy since it believed it had the right to use the Shehzore name but Dewan won it to use the word on its Daehan pickup which was later discontinued due to inferior quality and poor sales.
Dewan’s new Kia-branded Shehzore will likely be the Kia Frontier pickup which was introduced by Lucky Motor Company (Kia’s passenger vehicle partner in Pakistan) in 2018 but was phased out sooner than expected. The new Kia Shehzore will compete in Pakistan against its sister product, the Hyundai H-100 Porter sold by Nishat Group.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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