NexGen Auto, the automotive subsidiary of Pakistan’s Nishat Group, has announced a partnership with China’s Chery Group to introduce iCAUR-branded new energy vehicles (NEVs) in Pakistan, adding a third electric vehicle brand to its growing portfolio in the country. iCAUR is a Chery subsidiary established as a dedicated electric vehicle brand in April 2023, known as iCar in China but marketed as iCAUR in global markets due to trademark restrictions on the original name. The announcement marks a significant expansion of NexGen Auto’s ambitions in Pakistan’s electric vehicle space, coming after the company had already brought Omoda and Jaecoo to the local market in collaboration with the same Chinese automotive group.
The partnership will introduce cutting-edge new energy vehicles equipped with eco-friendly powertrains, with iCAUR’s product lineup built around its strengths in electrification and intelligent systems. Key technologies include the i-AWD (intelligent All-Wheel Drive) system and the Golden REEV (Range-Extended Electric Vehicle) platform, which is designed to deliver performance across daily urban commuting, long-distance travel, and off-road use. The brand’s design language is centred on boxy, rugged-looking sport utility vehicles with squared silhouettes, upright stances, and muscular proportions, a combination that is relatively unusual for Pakistan’s market, where bold SUV styling has largely been associated with conventional petrol and diesel nameplates. iCAUR’s global lineup currently includes three main models: the V23, the 03T, and the V27, with the latter being a purpose-built range-extended electric sport utility vehicle positioned strongly in Middle Eastern markets for its off-road capability.
Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power, and agriculture, covering a full industrial chain spanning manufacturing, finance, and energy. The iCAUR partnership represents a key step in the group’s expansion into the new energy vehicle sector and is intended to support a more sustainable transformation of Pakistan’s automotive industry. NexGen Auto is currently assembling the Jaecoo J7 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and the Jaecoo J5 hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) locally, and the iCAUR addition signals the company’s intent to deepen its electric vehicle presence across multiple segments and price points.
iCAUR’s arrival in Pakistan represents both an opportunity and a test. The brand targets buyers who prioritize design, technology, and driving experience over resale value, a segment that conventional players have not fully served. However, it faces the same challenges confronting any new nameplate entering the market: building an after-sales network, ensuring spare parts availability, and training technicians from scratch. Resale value, a critical consideration for most Pakistani car buyers, remains an open question for a brand with no local track record yet. That said, the gradual shift in buyer attitudes toward new energy vehicles, combined with Nishat Group’s established presence and distribution capabilities, gives NexGen Auto a meaningful foundation from which to build consumer confidence in the iCAUR brand.
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