Proton Pakistan is encountering further challenges as another car dealership, South Motors in Karachi, announces the termination of its association with the auto manufacturer.
Last year witnessed four major city dealerships severing ties with Proton, citing various reasons such as the absence of delivery date information for vehicles booked since 2020, consistent price fluctuations despite delayed deliveries, and price adjustments after customers had made full payments.
South Motors, the fifth dealership, has now resigned from its 3S dealership status for the Proton brand. The decision follows extensive legal discussions and general deliberations involving all relevant stakeholders.
Expressing disappointment over the management of the Proton brand by its assembler and distributor in Pakistan, M/S Al Haj Automotive Pvt. Limited, South Motors released a statement outlining the reasons for its decision. These reasons include miscommunication regarding vehicle deliveries, recurrent incidents of customer refund cheques being dishonored, and a negative impact on the brand and dealer image attributed to Al-Haj’s business practices.
South Motors has made it clear that all pending deliveries and refund payments are the sole responsibility of Al-Haj Automotive. Despite the disassociation, the dealership remains committed to supporting customers in obtaining their refunds from the car assembler as soon as possible.
Customers are advised to visit the head office of Al-Haj Automotive for any inquiries related to deliveries and refund of payments.
Notably, the ongoing issue of non-delivery of cars, particularly the Proton X70, has resulted in consumer protests and legal actions against the company. Proton Pakistan continues to face challenges as its dealership network undergoes significant changes, impacting both the brand’s reputation and customer satisfaction.