Presently around the world, cars are central to the lives of millions of people. The market for cars is one of the largest for a single product, and this product represents the single largest source of oil demand, a key trend that the International Energy Agency (IEA) has tracked closely for decades. What’s more, car manufacturing is a pillar of the economy in many countries today, directly employing over 10 million people across the world – while supporting millions of additional jobs elsewhere in the supply chain, from steel and aluminum production to component manufacturing. No doubt, the automotive sector is contributing roughly 3.65 percent to worldwide GDP and driving innovation, career opportunities, and manufacturing value. It acts as a massive economic multiplier, supporting millions of jobs in supply chains—steel, rubber, electronics, and finance and often serves as a major indicator of industrial strength. International experts analyzed that the Global automotive sales (cars + light vehicles) up to February 2026 have reached 11,88 million units, falling by 7 percent in year-on-year (YoY) change. As global production falls, competition becomes more regional, with growth pockets emerging mainly in South America and South Asia. Country-wise, China stayed the largest global market despite losing 18.6 percent. This huge market accounted for 23.7 percent of all worldwide sales. USA ranked 2nd losing 4.2 percent in sales volume. The country held a 19.5 percent share of the global market. India ranked 3rd with a 7 percent share followed by Japan which secured a 6.2 percent share. Ranking 5th, Germany was still the largest European market, with a 3.4 percent share of the total, followed by Brazil in 6th with 2.8 percent. Italy -up 1 spot- followed in 7th with 2.5 percent, in front of UK -up 1 spot- in 8th with 2.4 percent, France -down 2 spots- in 9th with 2.3 percent and Mexico -up 1 spot- closing the Top 10 with 2.1 percent. On the other hand, EV sales struggle worldwide in 2026, losing about 17 percent in YoY volume. While several countries are developing a charging ecosystem, strategy unrest and overreliance on key actors like China to provide materials hindered the segment’s growth. China stayed at the top constituting 53.4 percent of all EV sales worldwide despite plunging 35.3 percent. USA followed in 2nd, down by 19.1 percent while securing 7.8 percent. Germany was ranked 3rd, growing 18.1 percent with a 4 percent share. Two countries that recorded key growth were South Korea in 5th (+239.3 percent) and Thailand in 6th (+327percent) highlighting the regional aspect of EV development. International experts also recorded that the external business environment, chiefly in the automotive sector, is changing rapidly under the influence of the continuous development of new technologies. As key players in market processes, vehicle manufacturers and sellers are forced to respond quickly to global challenges. Accordingly, their strategies focus on actively introducing innovations, developing technologically advanced and environmentally friendly products, and adapting to specific regional conditions. In the developing countries like Pakistan, where the automotive market has traditionally been led by Japanese brands like Toyota, Suzuki, and Honda, supported by strong domestic assembly operations and wide dealership networks. Starting at 141,306 units in 2014, sales grew sharply to a peak of 254,840 units in 2018, a rise of 80 percent, driven by higher incomes, easier auto financing, and supportive government of Pakistan strategies. In 2020 the market contracted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with sales declining 33.9 percent, but rebounded strongly in 2021 with a 91.4 percent rise as economic activity resumed. However, 2023 saw a severe downturn, with sales dropping 63.6 percent to approximately 82,218 units because of CKD import restrictions, growing vehicle prices, higher financing costs, and weakened consumer purchasing power. In 2024 recovery began, with sales increasing 52.1 percent to 125,048 units, supported through eased import restrictions and lower interest rates. Growth continued into 2025, with sales reaching 175,660 units, marking a further 40.5 percent increase and signaling renewed momentum in the sector. Pakistan’s automotive sector extended its recovery in March 2026, with car sales rising 40 percent YoY, though a sharp drop in volumes at Pak Suzuki Motor Company pulled overall sales down 9 percent month-on-month. According to data released by Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association, total car sales clocked in at 15,531 units in March, taking cumulative sales for the first nine months of FY2026 to 144,029 units — up 43 percent as against to the same period last year. The automotive sector within Pakistan is not only a key economic sector but also a substantial contributor to the country’s employment landscape. Its importance extends far beyond the production lines to shape the overall economic fabric. The sector’s contribution to the industrial output is undeniable, with millions of cars and trucks being manufactured and assembled yearly. This production surge translates into a substantial impact on the national GDP. Perhaps even more significant is the role the automotive sector plays in job creation. Statistics showed that more that 1.7 million individuals are directly employed within this sector, demonstrating its influence on the labor market and income distribution.
Smart Driving
Smart driving also known as driverless or autonomous driving, smart driving cars can be safely driven with the help of devices such as artificial intelligence, visual computing, radar, monitoring settings and global positioning systems, with no one manipulating the car. Smart driving can avoid drunk driving, fatigue driving and other safety hazards by coordinating travel routes and planning times, and to some extent reduce the occurrence of road traffic congestion and safety accidents.