'Own money' being charged for car delivery by local manufacturers: National Assembly panel informed

The local auto manufacturers have been charging 'own money' (before the timely delivery of new vehicle other than the actual price) on different makes and models of Toyota and Honda cars from Rs 30,000 to Rs 100,000. Sources said the Ministry of Industries has informed the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Industries that local manufacturers of Toyota and Honda have been charging own money from Rs 30,000 to Rs 100,000.
The 'own money' was much higher in Islamabad as compared to Karachi for the same vehicle. The 'own money' on Corolla XLi was Rs 30,000 in Karachi and Rs 100,000 in Islamabad. The comparison available for two cities revealed that 'own money' for Corolla GLi was Rs 50,000 in Karachi and Rs 100,000 in Islamabad whereas Rs 40,000 was charged in Islamabad for Honda Civic. Average delivery time was one to two months for Corolla in Karachi and two months plus in Islamabad. The delivery time was one to two months for Honda Civic.
The committee was also informed that despite the fact that auto industry is operating far below capacity but product of Toyota and Honda is not available in the market and 'own money' is still being charged on Corolla XLi and GLi and few products of Honda. According to the ministry, the information about 'own money' was obtained by May 13, 2009.
The committee members wondered over the government inability to check the black-marketing which they were of the view was going on rampantly. The ministry said that prices of vehicle had increased substantially in 2008-09 for two reasons, depreciation of the rupee vis-à-vis Japanese yen by 39 percent from Rs 0.63 to 0.81 as well as appreciation of the dollar from Rs 67 to 80 during June 2008 to February 2009 and imposition of levy of 5 percent federal excise duty and increase in sale tax rate from 15 percent to 16 percent.
A price comparison given by the ministry showed that after 23 percent increase the prices of Suzuki Mehran jumped to Rs 407,000 in November, 2008 and than Rs 433,000 in April, 2009. The overall increase in prices of different models of Suzuki was between 20 to 24 percent after 2008-09 budget. The increase in prices of Toyota cars was between 40 to 46 percent depending on models.
The price of Corolla XLi has gone up to Rs 1,269,000 after the budget 2008-09 from Rs 930,000 and 2OD SE from Rs 1,119,000 before budget to Rs 1,719,000 after the budget. The increase in the prices of Honda Atlas Motors was between 18 to 49 percent with the cost of Civic VTECMT going up from Rs 1,409,000 to Rs 1,659,000 and City CVT from Rs 959,000 pre-budget to Rs 1,429,000 post budget.