fb
Automobiles that failed in Pakistan
  Sep 05, 2023     talha seo  

Automobiles that failed in Pakistan

In the last two to three years, the number of new vehicles and automakers has dramatically increased in Pakistan. The success of Kia Lucky Motors Corporation (KLMC), in particular, opened opportunities for other new automakers in Pakistan, albeit it isn't quite as hot right now.

Many automakers have tried throughout the years to gain a dominant market share. Still, they have been unsuccessful for a variety of reasons, while others have entirely disappeared while being formidable rivals on paper.

In contrast to expectations, this article will highlight automobiles that failed in Pakistan:

Suzuki Ciaz:

The decision by Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) not to sell Ciaz in Pakistan as a CKD was a costly error that ultimately resulted in the model's termination.

It had all the makings of a viable vehicle if it had been marketed as a locally built, reasonably priced vehicle with a well-known and recognizable brand like "Margalla" or "Baleno."

In 2017, Ciaz made its debut in Pakistan. Due to the intense rivalry in the small and subcompact car markets, it only had a limited lifespan.

It featured a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission that drove the front wheels and had a 1.4 liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine that produced 91 horsepower and 130 Nm of torque.

Auto fans and pundits said that the Suzuki Ciaz's high price prevented it from being as formidable of a rival in the sedan market as its predecessors. The automated edition of the Ciaz was priced at Rs. 1.84 million, while the base price was Rs. 1.7 million, according to PSMC.

Due to this, the automobile was at the time more expensive than other Honda City variations as well as the XLI and GLI versions of the Toyota Corolla.

Ciaz was not only pricey but also exceedingly simple. People spent a lot of money on a car that had just two airbags better than the competition, which was a tremendous letdown.

FAW V2:

Pakistan is an excellent market for small hatchbacks since many young professionals choose affordable models for their first cars.

The FAW V2 was an excellent addition to the market, but like the other cars on this list, it was unable to gain the anticipated amount of market share.

In 2014, V2 was introduced in Pakistan as a less expensive substitute for the Suzuki Swift. It had a 5-speed manual transmission and a 1.3-liter Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with variable cam timing (VCT) that produced 90 horsepower and 120 Nm of torque for the front wheels.

The FAW V2 was the least expensive vehicle in its class, despite having a 13-occ, quite comfortable (albeit basic) hatchback.

A brand-new V2 costs about Rs. 1.6 million, which was less than the cost of multiple brand-new cars. Despite this, V2 was unable to sell as many vehicles as Swift, Cultus, and Picanto models that were ten years old.

United Bravo:

When United Bravo made its debut as a challenger to the 30-year-old Suzuki Mehran, it showed a lot of potentials. It is still available as a CKD and a rival to the Suzuki Alto and Prince Pearl on the market.

With a 4-speed manual transmission, Bravo's 800cc naturally aspirated 3-cylinder petrol engine produces 40 horsepower and 60 Nm of torque.

Compared to its rivals, United has only sold a few units thus far. Poor resale value, inadequate customer support and after-sales services, a shortage of components, and dependability concerns are some of the factors contributing to its low demand.

Despite being aimed at Pakistan's largest automobile sector by sales volume, United Bravo hasn't succeeded, which is problematic for its future in Pakistan given the country's present economic difficulties.

United Alpha:

Like its younger sister, the United Alpha has struggled to stay competitive against cars like the Kia Picanto and Suzuki Cultus.

In 2021, Alpha made its debut in Pakistan. It features a 4-speed manual transmission and a 1.0-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine with 68 horsepower and 93 Nm of torque.

Despite being one of the more affordable cars, Alpha failed to take off, largely because it is a Chery QQ that has been rebadged and is over two decades old.

Despite having a price tag of a little over Rs. 1.7 million, United Alpha, one of Pakistan's most affordable city hatchbacks, found it challenging to stay competitive in the market.

Zotye Z100:

Most likely, you are unaware that Pakistan even has this particular automobile. It belongs to the same class as the Suzuki Cultus, Kia Picanto, and United Alpha.

The vehicle had a 5-speed manual transmission and a naturally aspirated 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine that produced 68 horsepower and 90 Nm of torque.

Even though the Zotye Z100 appeared to have a suitable quantity of creature comforts, acceptable performance, and a reasonable price, it still failed due to a lack of brand recognition, poor resale, and worries about the car's dependability and maintenance costs.

Despite being discontinued in Pakistan, the automobile was said to have cost little about Rs. 1.5 million. Even in the used market, Zotye Z100 is essentially nonexistent due to its poor sales numbers.

Honorable Mentions

The following cars also had a strong showing early on but lost their appeal over time and vanished from the market.

  • Nissan Sunny
  • Mitsubishi Lancer
  • Chevrolet Optra
  • Kia Spectra
  • Fiat Uno
  • Adam Revo

Conclusion

The majority of the vehicles on this list are (or were) affordable hatchbacks that, in theory, should have been a success. However, these automobiles were doomed from the start due to subpar marketing, after-sales services, construction quality flaws, and resale value.

 

In Pakistan, the demand for high-quality, reasonably priced vehicles is still high. However, the present economic unrest portrays a negative picture of Pakistan's automobile sector.

talha seo