News Desk |
Pak Suzuki is ready for its next move. According to local publications, Pak Suzuki will be launching the new Suzuki Alto 2019 with a 660cc engine. The new Suzuki Alto is predicted to go up for sale in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2019-20.
The 3-decade old reigning domestic and much sought-after vehicle Suzuki Mehran was announced to be discontinued in the next quarter. This had been done, GVS earlier reported, with the pretext of launching a new brand with modern features amid impending competition from Chinese brands and other incoming players.
The car was launched to the public on September 8th and deliveries will start around December. The United Bravo is priced at PKR 0.8 Million.
“Management of PSMCL (Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited) has decided to discontinue Model SB-308 (Mehran) from April 2019,” the carmaker, having more than half of share in 260,000 markets, said in a statement. “Consequently, 23,821 units will be produced from September 2018 to March 2019.”
According to the company’s internal circular to its vendors that leaked online, Suzuki Pakistan has requested its vendors to curb the production of parts according to company’s production plan for Mehran. After Mehran, Suzuki will be missing out on a significant segment in the market. And to fill that void, Suzuki Pakistan has decided to roll out the new Alto 2019.
Read more: United Bravo to launch next month, Mehran-lovers in peril
Although this isn’t a surprise move; Suzuki had hinted a year ago that it might revamp Mehran into a new car built along similar lines as the Alto. Pictures had also surfaced of the then planning commission Minister Ahsan Iqbal inspecting a prototype of the car. Reportedly, there will be a total three variants of the car; two manual variants and one fully loaded automatic variant.
The high specifications manual and fully loaded auto variant will come with a power steering. The engine will be imported, but the transmission has been developed locally. Rumors suggest it will be the same manual transmission that is available in the current locally assembled Suzuki Wagon R. The expected price of Suzuki Alto 2019 will be around PKR 8 to 10 lacs; a manual variant for around PKR 800,000 and the auto variant priced around Rs 10 Lacs.
Read more: Wagon R discontinued as rumors of Mehran ‘revamp’ surface
The expected price compares to that of the newly launched United Bravo, which had been quoted as the ‘reason for Mehran’s demise’. Pakistani motorcycle manufacturing industry United Autos ventured into automobile manufacturing and rolled out its first brainchild, the United Bravo. The car was launched to the public on September 8th and deliveries will start around December. The United Bravo is priced at PKR 0.8 Million.