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Cars That Failed Miserably In The Pakistani Market
  Jul 06, 2024     Arifa Hussain  

Cars That Failed Miserably In The Pakistani Market


Pakistan used to import a lot of nice vehicles, but for various reasons, they were a commercial failure. Company problems, a lack of government backing, and the high cost of spare parts were some of the key reasons they failed badly in the market.
This blog post will make you nostalgic and take a trip down memory lane with a list of excellent vehicles that were previously introduced in Pakistan but were a complete failure.

Suzuki Liana

A standout vehicle of the era was the Liana. Initially, Suzuki imported CBUs from Thailand; subsequently, indigenous manufacture was initiated in Pakistan. Outperforming the Honda City and Toyota Corolla, the car's performance, cabin size, and build quality were the finest in its class.

Its failure stemmed solely from the fact that it was too sophisticated for the Pakistani market. Yes, it was among the first vehicles to employ electronic power steering, an ECU, and an EFI engine. This automobile was too complicated for the local mechanics to diagnose since they didn't comprehend it.

In the end, mechanics dubbed it "Liana Mt. Layna."

Suzuki Ciaz

The issue with Ciaz was its back headspace. Another reason Suzuki failed was because it raised prices even though it knew its sales were poor.

After launching the Ciaz in 2014, Suzuki eventually began manufacturing CKD models. The Ciaz's numerous features were lowered by Suzuki, which contributed to the CKD issue. They took off the digital temperature control, LED headlights, and the body's noise insulation.


Sales weren't strong until Suzuki raised Ciaz's price in 2017. This automobile flopped horribly and was never seen on the market again after that.

FAW V2

In its class, the FAW V2 was the least expensive vehicle. It was a 1.3 L hatchback and a good choice for individuals on a tight budget. However, because of its Chinese ancestry, it was never very popular. Unlike now, in 2024, Chinese products were not well-known in Pakistan in 2017.

Its ugly design was another factor in its downfall. The low-quality plastic used in the interior and the FAW V2's inexpensive appearance turned off many buyers.


We assume that this automobile would have been successful in the market if FAW had invested more money in its design.

Chevrolet Optra

The American-origin vehicle known as the Chevrolet Optra was introduced by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand in 2002. The company Nexus Automotive Private Limited brought it into Pakistan. The vehicle was OK; the replacement components were the issue.

All of them were CBU, and because they were imported from America, replacement parts were quite expensive. Still, the automobile was fantastic. Overall constructed quality met American standards, and the driving quality, interior room, suspensions, and drive quality were all excellent.

United Bravo and Prince Pearl

These two were Chinese brands that competed in the same market. The same problems caused both automobiles to fail, and their stories are identical. United and Prince decided to release the most affordable 800 and 1000cc hatchbacks with remarkable features available.

However, their scheme was foiled. The car's construction quality had to be compromised to fit in equipment like air conditioning, power windows, power steering, and an appealing design while yet maintaining a reasonable price. Regretfully, the build quality was not good enough for mass manufacturing.


The car's construction was excessively low, noticeable gaps everywhere, and some elements were not put correctly. After only four to five months of use, even the color of the taillight used to fade.

As a result, its resale got null, and it failed miserably in the market.

 

Arifa Hussain