Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited (PSMCL) is a Pakistani automobile company which is a subsidiary of Japanese automaker Suzuki.[2][3]
It is the Pakistani assembler and distributor of cars manufactured by Suzuki and its subsidiaries and foreign divisions.[4] Currently Pak Suzuki is the largest car assembler in Pakistan.
History
Pak Suzuki Motors was founded in September 1982 as a joint venture between the Government of Pakistan and Suzuki Motor Japan, formalizing the arrangement by which Awami Auto had produced the Suzuki SS80 from 1982.[4][5] Suzuki originally owned 25 percent stake in the company which was increased to 40 percent in 1992, when it acquired 15 percent stake of the Government of Pakistan at a price of PKR 117.19 per share, 172 million in total.[6][7]
Having assembled both the Carry and Jimny locally since 1976, Suzuki's first locally built product was the 800 cc ST90 Carry van and truck. By 1984 the 1000 cc Jimny (SJ410) and 800 cc Alto/Fronte (called "FX") had been added to the lineup, and a second plant was planned for 1985.[8] Cars built by Suzuki Pakistan often lack essential features which are standard in other cars, such as airbags, rear windshield defogger and rear seat belts. In 2006, Pak Suzuki offered factory-fitted CNG two years after rival Dewan Motors started offering the facility in their locally assembled Hyundai Santros.
By 2012, the Pakistani-assembled Suzuki Mehran remained possibly the last car in the world which still used a carbureted engine. Starting in 2013, the Suzuki Mehran was equipped with EFI engines to meet the old Euro-II emission standards. The Suzuki Mehran was finally discontinued in March 2019. As a joint venture, Pak Suzuki is also investing in an automobile glass manufacturing company.
As of 2024, Pak Suzuki is still selling the Eighth generation Suzuki Alto in 3 different variants, all equipped with the 3-cylinder 658 cc R06A engine. AGS automatic transmission is offered as an optional extra on the VXR model but comes standard on the VXL variant.[9]
Suzuki Alto VX
Suzuki Alto VXR (also offered as VXR AGS with automatic transmission)
Suzuki Alto VXL
Suzuki Every
Pak Suzuki has began manufacturing the Sixth generation Suzuki Every from 2024 replacing the Suzuki Bolan. It is being sold in 2 different trims, VX (base model) and VXR (top model). Both are being offered with the same engine, a 658 cc R06AI3, which is an inline three DOHC 12 valve engine with VVT and is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. It can produce 43hp at 5700 RPMs and 58Nm of torque at 3700 RPMs.[10][11]
Suzuki Cultus (Celerio)
Pak Suzuki is selling the Second generation Suzuki Celerio under the 'Cultus' brand name. It is sold with the 3-cylinder 996 cc Suzuki K10B engine, with automatic transmission available as an option on the VXL trim level.[12]
Suzuki Cultus VXR
Suzuki Cultus VXL (also offered as VXL AGS with automatic transmission)
Suzuki Wagon R
Pak Suzuki manufactures the Second generation Suzuki Wagon R (MP31S) in two different variants, both equipped with the same 996 cc Suzuki K10B engine offered in the Suzuki Cultus.[13]
Suzuki Wagon R VXR
Suzuki Wagon R VXL (also offered as VXL AGS with automatic transmission)
Suzuki Swift
The Third generation (A2L) Suzuki Swift has been sold by Pak Suzuki since 2022. It is available in 2 variants, all with the 4-cylinder 1197 cc Suzuki K12M engine and is offered with a choice of a 5-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic transmission.[14]
Suzuki Swift GL (also offered as GL CVT with automatic transmission)
The SY413 Baleno (also known as the Cultus Crescent and Esteem in other countries) was assembled in Pakistan starting 1998 as a replacement for the Suzuki Margalla, till 2006 when it was replaced by the Liana.[4] When introduced, it featured several improvements over the Margalla, such as standard power steering, wider tyres, tachometer as standard, 4-spoke steering wheel, black interior, EFI, and 16-valve. It featured the G13BB engine, though on the chassis plate, it was stamped as G13B. Initial trim levels included GL, GXi, Gli and GliP (also known as Gli Plus).
Produced between 1982 and 1988. A modified version of the Suzuki Alto SS40 manufactured under the chassis code SS80, with a 796 cc F8B engine. Early models came with black interiors, later changed to beige interiors improving the aesthetics by making it appear spacious. Later models remained popular for this reason. A/C was available as an option in some years. Production was discontinued and Suzuki Mehran was launched as a replacement in 1989.
The first generation Cultus was sold in Pakistan as Suzuki Khyber, by Pak Suzuki assembly line, and produced between 1989 and 2000, only in GA trim level. It was equipped with a four-stroke engine based on G10A platform matted to a five-speed manual gearbox. Production was ended in 2000, replaced by second generation Cultus.
The last place where the Kizashi was on sale was Pakistan, after it had been removed from other markets. Pak Suzuki Motors, launched the Suzuki Kizashi on February 11, 2015, at Pearl Continental Hotel, Lahore. It was imported as a Completely Built-up Unit (CBU) with no plans to manufacture it locally. [15] The Kizashi was discontinued in 2016 due to poor sales.
The sedan shape of Suzuki Cultus second generation was initially (1990) imported from Japan to test the market and sold under the name Suzuki Sedan (possibly because it was the first sedan body style offered by Pak Suzuki Motors). It bore the chassis code SF310 and came with a carburetted 3-cylinder 993 cc G10 engine. The market reception was good, though the audience complained of low power. The same car was considered for local manufacture as an entry-level executive car. Manufacturing started in 1992 under the name Suzuki Margalla, chassis code SF413 using an 8-valve SOHC 4-cylinder G13 carburetted engine. It came with power steering as an option. The tachometer was not available in any of the variants. The car was offered in variants such as GL and GLX, with an upgraded variant called Margalla Plus launched later on. Production was ceased in 1998 to give way to the replacement Suzuki Baleno. In the Pakistani used car market, "Suzuki Sedan" refers to the 1000 cc import model, whereas Suzuki Margalla means the locally assembled 1300 cc model.
The Suzuki Mehran began production in 1988 as the "Alto", but was renamed Mehran in 1992. The name stems from an old Iranian name, meaning "child of the sun." The Mehran received minor facelifts in 1998 and again in 2004. The Mehran[2] was available in VX, Euro-II or VXR equipment levels. It had again received a mild facelift with an asymmetric grille at the same time as the introduction of the EFi engine in 2012. Production ended in 2019.
The Suzuki Samurai was produced by Spain's Santana Motors from 1985 to 2003 with an international 1982-1984 Suzuki F10A 970 cc carburettor engine. Pak Suzuki Motors manufactured it under the name Suzuki Potohar using the chassis code SJ410. The fuel ignition system was a legacy distributor with breaker points. A common after-market upgrade was to replace the stock distributor with the one that came with the locally manufactured Suzuki Alto. Only SWB versions were offered. Initial models came with 4-wheel drum brakes though later it was upgraded with front-wheel disc brakes as standard. Factory-fitted CNG was offered in some years as well. Potohar was popular due to high ground clearance, low-end torque, capable 4x4, low fuel consumption and easy maintenance. In 2006, Potohar was discontinued with no locally manufactured replacement. Rather Suzuki Jimny with M13A engine was offered as an import model at nearly twice the cost.
Pak Suzuki had been manufacturing the Seventh generation Suzuki Carry, it was sold in 2 different variants. Both were offered with the same 796 cc Suzuki F8B engine and a 4-speed manual transmission only.[17][18]
Suzuki Bolan (passenger van)
Suzuki Ravi (pick-up truck)
Production of the Bolan had ended in 2024 and is being replaced by the sixth generation Suzuki Every.[19]
Pak Suzuki had launched the pre-facelift version of the fourth generation Suzuki Vitara in December of 2016 as a CBU (Completely Built-up Unit) vehicle. It was offered in 2 trims, GL+ and GLX. The Pakistani Vitara features the same 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and the 1.6-litre petrol engine found in international market version, which produces 115hp and 156 Nm of torque. [20]
The Vitara was eventually discontinued in pakistan due to poor sales and the brand's association with cheap, commuter kei cars.[21]
Motorcycles
As of 2023, Pak Suzuki sells four different motorcycles.[22]