The government and Honda alike, have come under fire on social media after a horrifying motorway crash resulted in a Civic being snapped in half on Wednesday.
Videos surfaced on social media in which a Civic that was on its way to Lahore, split into two and sprawled across the road and adjacent field. An unconfirmed voice note from the surviving driver also circulated the web. The driver claimed that he was cruising at 125km/h and tried to stall cruise control by braking but the car’s system jammed. The car flipped ten times and pulled apart into two.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Central Secretary Information Ahmad Jawad reposted the video on Twitter and said that such was the quality of a Honda car. He added that the video should be shared widely so Honda was forced to apologize for looting customers.
لاھور کی طرف جا رہا تھا، کروز کنٹرول ختم کرنے کیلئے بریک کو ٹچ کیا، سسٹم ھینگ ہو گیا،گاڑی نے قلابازیاں کھائیں اور ۲حصوں میں ٹوٹ گئی،یہ ہے کہانی ھنڈا سوک چلانے والے کی،جو بال بال بچا۔یہ ہے ھنڈا سوک کی کوالٹی-اتنا شئیر کریں کہ یہ قوم کو لوٹنے والی کمپنیاں آپ سے معافی مانگیں۔ pic.twitter.com/vWUzTWWaHp
— Ahmad Jawad PTI (@AhmadJawadBTH) September 7, 2021
Some members of the Twitterati were not convinced with Ahmad’s comments on Honda and turned the tide on the PTI-led government itself. A user was exasperated at the low quality of Honda vehicles and wondered why the prices were so high. The user added that it remained to be seen when Prime Minister Imran Khan would take note of such ‘mafia’.
What a pathetic quality @honda civic in pakistan has and prices are so high like this is one of the best cars in the world. We have no standards of quality?. Mr. PrimeMinister @ImranKhanPTI when will you get the courage to do something about this Mafia. @PakWheels pic.twitter.com/l8wN5ijMRW
— aroomfulloftrees (@tnvekaten) September 8, 2021
Journalist Tariq Naqash said that relevant ministries had not ensured that high grade vehicles were manufactured in Pakistan. Naqash also said that that a 2012 model of a car manufactured in Japan performed better than a latest model made in Pakistan.
کیاقوم ہےکہ گاڑی کےناقص معیارجسکی سینکڑوں مثالیں موجود ہیں پربات کرنےکےبجائےڈرائیورکومطعون کرنےلگ گئی ہے۔کیااس میں کوئی کلام ہےکہ پاکستان میں تیارکردہ 2021ماڈل کی گاڑی جاپان میں تیارکردہ 2012ماڈل سےبھی گھٹیاہے لیکن متعلقہ وزارت والوں کی منتھلیاں لگی ہیں سوکوئی جوابدہی نہیں ہوتی۔
— Tariq Naqash (@TariqNaqash) September 7, 2021
Another user blamed the government in addition to Honda and said that both were responsible for the low-quality automobile. He wondered why the government allowed the car to be in production and what that meant for consumer rights.
Its government of Pakistan not only Honda responsible for such a sub standard product. Why the govt is allowing such products and where are consumer protection rights?
— Mohammad Tayyeb Choudhry (@ChoudhryTayyeb) September 7, 2021
A social worker, Maria Chaudhry said that PTI claimed earlier that inflation should be ignored but celebrated the number of cars sold. She lamented that the quality of the leading political party turned out to be lower than the cars being sold.
Imran Khan says leave the inflation, just see that the record of cars and motorcycles has been sold
But unfortunately the quality of these vehicles turned out to be even lower than the PTI— Maria Chaudhary (@ambrinmaria) September 7, 2021
Auto industry regulations were also scrutinized as a user alleged that quality Honda cars in Pakistan were practically made from scrap. He said that that the crash had nothing to do with speed limit and that the car’s cruise control should have disengaged when the driver pressed the brake.
Nothing to do with speed limit. As soon as you will touch the break then cruise control disengaged. The quality honda is producing in Pakistan is just scrape and our auto industry regulators should take serious action on this because we are paying hell of money to them.
— Naveed Ahmed Butt (@NaveedButt25) September 7, 2021
Several users commented on the dwindling quality of Honda Pakistan’s products specifically. A user said that adaptive cruise control was installed in cars world over, but mere cruise control was offered in Pakistan.
Honda Pakistan has been doing a great injustice to its customers for 5 years by offering only cruise control. Rest of the world has adaptive cruise control.
— Motasim Bajwa (@motasim) September 7, 2021
Discrepancy between Honda’s quality in the world and in Pakistan was noted by another user who called upon people to boycott the company. He said that he was loyal to Honda for two decades but ceased to be their customer when he observed the higher quality of similar models elsewhere.
Boycott Honda Pak! I m @Honda user for the last 20 years but a big NO to its products. When I compare my new CIVIC with the same model released elsewhere in the world, I curse its fragile n substandard build quality. The other day visited HONDA to witness new CITY, horribly bad. https://t.co/kYZzrgUtK2
— M. Asim Khan (@asimnyazee) September 7, 2021
Price was a reiterated concern as a user pointed out that a Civic cost a hefty Rs4.5 million. The poster wondered why people preferred luxury of design over quality of features.
Honda Civic. This teen dabba cost around Rs. 4.5 million.
I am failed to understand why people prefer design and looks over features, comfort and reliability. @Honda @HondaCarsPk @HACPLOfficial pic.twitter.com/PRpASk7Uni— Sabih Ul Hussnain (@SabihUlHussnain) September 7, 2021
Another user critiqued Honda’s quality rather sarcastically. He retorted that people should thank the ‘Honda crumble zone system’ that split the car in half and landed the passenger in a safe field.
Look at car and give credit to Honda crumble zone system that safe the passangers. Hats off to Honda for their excellent safety features. We should be thankfull to Honda Pakistan.
— Tahir (@tahirmaud) September 7, 2021
Criticism for Honda and the government was aplenty, but a user was thankful to PTI for allowing imported alternates in Pakistan. Omar Wahab, a doctor, said that it was a miracle that the person survived. He thanked the PM for bringing in safer and more luxurious cars.
AllahAkbar. It’s a miracle he survived. And the pathetic condition of both Toyota and Honda here in Pakistan is badly exposed. They are playing with human lives. Thanks to PM @ImranKhanPTI for letting new and better cars in pakistan 🇵🇰 with more safety and luxury.
— dr. Umar (@dromarwahab) September 7, 2021
So far, no statement from Honda has emerged in the wake of the Twitter storm against the renowned company.
