While Pak Suzuki is the biggest carmaker in the country both in terms of overall sales and the number of models it has in the market, it has faced its fair share of criticism over the years. This includes questions over the quality of its products to trying and charging extra for features that are thought to be standard in other cars such as AC and floor mats.
Another valid critique has been two-fold: Pak Suzuki charges absurd amounts on its models and it hasn’t exactly brought a new model in the market for a while. A case can be made for the Alto 660CC but that was only because it was discontinuing the Mehran, that too after 30 years.
The New Cultus
Three years ago, the company stated that it will be bringing in Suzuki Celerio to replace the Cultus but instead of completely replacing the car, it kept the Cultus badge and changed the car completely to fit the Celerio.
It was touted as a milestone for local car makers because it had features like Dual Front SRS Airbags and the Anti-Lock Braking System. It even came with keyless entry and immobilizer.
At that time, the car was priced at a reasonable PKR 1.25 million which made sense because of the features it boasted. For the first time in a very long time, it felt like you were getting your money’s worth!
Going Downhill
Fast forward to today, the only thing that has changed is the price of the car with the base price currently starting at PKR 1.745 million and if you want airbags you need to pay PKR 1.855 million.
There have been no upgrades at all, the only things that have gone up are the prices with one notification after another about price hikes.
Comparison With Celerio in India
The Celerio is available in the Thai and Indian markets as well. Recently, Maruti Suzuki (India) announced an upgraded 2020 Celerio for the country. The newer model has been fitted with a BS-VI compliant engine which makes the car PKR 32,529 more expensive than the previous models.
The new Celerio costs around INR 441,000 – 567,000 which when converted to Pakistani rupees is PKR 956,000 – 1.22 million. To hammer this point further, we would like to point out that the Indian Celerio and the Pakistani Cultus have the same shape, relatively the same interior, and the same features. The only difference is the new engine on the Indian Celerio!
This begs the question: why is the Cultus so expensive in Pakistan?
One of the reasons given was the devaluation of the rupee but the rupee has been relatively stable since June 2019. Another reason usually mentioned is that it isn’t built in Pakistan.
Where is the localization that has been touted by the company several times over the years?
If the company can “locally produce” the 660CC Alto, why can’t it do the same for its other cars? This issue becomes even more glaring when one realizes that if the company lowers its prices, it can sell more units because even now the car is packed with a host of features that aren’t available in other lower-priced cars. It makes even more sense when we realize that the sales of Cultus have been falling for the past year and this could give it a much-needed boost.
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Just PAK SUZUKI Monopoly KIA Wale Bajane A Gaye hai : Inki
abay saly market ka farq hai logo k farq hai ehsaas ka farq hai
or unki ecomony gario k import or tax per nhi chalti buot kam dependent hai
unko waha p bhot sari dosri compni ki gario sy compete karna hai
unki local company tata b bhot sasti or achi garia banati hai
+ waha p proper auto industry k rules and regulations implemented hai
is WHAAAAAY ka ye jawab hai
sahi kha bro
agar humari govt car +petrolium+many indirect tax na lain import per to
unky kharchy kha sy pury hongy
or phir kehty hain awam tax nhi deti
But how can it be that the superior muslim race has fallen behind the idol worshipping hindus? Surely this can’t be right. Isn’t Pakistan supposed to be at the top of everything?
humari govt import tax per or GST per ayaashiaa kar rahi hai
or income tax collect karny per roo rahi hai
hadd sy zada indirect taxation haii yaha pak ma
or rona lagaya hoa hai awam tax nhi deti
jab k har chezz se tax leti hai govt
petrol per tax cheeni per tax attta per tax sms per tax call per tax
kapray per tax
abay saly is 100% right
At the same price tag (the Indian one) I can buy used Corolla or City. Akhir kion men so-called Suzuki Celerio purchase kerun when we have Zotye Z100 and the World’s best Kia Picanto, much much better hatchbacks then this teen dabba where I have to pay 1lac more just to add mandatory security feature AirBags.
These are end of times for Suzuki, gone are the days when ppl considered the availability of local parts. Those fears have long gone thanks to Uber and Careem which made those imported Kei Cars (Mira, Dayz, NWagon) a great success.
Seriously I feel something when I see 18lacs on one side and Suzuki Celerio another side, I ask Suzuki are you sure about this? Is this car really worth this much..? And I can judge those desi answers from them and then I just want to give them a Picanto ride. Surely for Suzuki when I am to pay this much (18 lacs) why not I add one more lac and obtain the World’s best hatchback, sure deal.. isn’t it.. :P
I thought imports of used cars were banned? If they are not banned then Suzuki should pay bigger bribes to make it happen! The military and politicians are awaiting their payday!
We are regretful to know such news. This cultus should be of 1.2M, but the ranting of Govt on erstwhile Govts, is a common slogan to be heard in a response, when they are questioned on their incompetency . Asad Umer “The Champion” is even unable to correct this sore. When IMF is negotiating with IMF, then it is quite sure that such claptrap is about to happen.
Pakistani consumers need to lube up and bend over
Pakistan = fraudistan
NaPak Suzuki.
Napak suzuki waly hramiyu ka tolla h ye hrami teen daba jesi gari mehran ko 30 saal qoom ko loott te rhy koi inko pochne wala ni tha aby salo us gari me tha hi kiya siwae teen ki chadar….or us me kiya yha gtia car se qoom ko khoob lootta….
Or jaha tk bat h pruces ki to hr month inki prices brhate ja rhy hyn aese jese awam to darakhtoon se pese toorr kr la rsi hy…..or phr ye bolna k ropee dollar k muqable gira howa hy to wo to iss news me btaya gya k june 2019 se to ab tk stable hy phir kis cheez ki eja prices brhai ja ti hyn ……..
Bs inka tym finish hone wala hy suzuki pakistan ks inshallah……..