If you’re into the Pakistani automotive market, you probably know that Pak Suzuki has officially discontinued the iconic Bolan. That’s because soon, Pak Suzuki will be bringing Every as a replacement for that boxy Bolan. So far, the company has not officially revealed the launch date. 

We have tried contacting multiple official personnel of Suzuki Pakistan, but they kept it confidential and didn’t tell us. However, according to third parties and our reliable sources, the Every will be launching in Pakistan around October 12, 2024.

In remembrance of “Carry Dabba,” Bolan was undoubtedly one of Pak Suzuki’s iconic products. Let’s examine whether Suzuki did the right thing by discontinuing Bolan.

Why Suzuki Dipped the Bolan?

Well, everything was going normal, and suddenly, a picture of the last Bolan chassis production went viral on the internet, stating that Suzuki had officially ended Bolan’s production line from its factory. Interestingly, this decision wasn’t taken by government regulations or legal issues,, and there seemed to be no external pressure behind the move.

So far, we know Suzuki began planning this strategy back in 2022. They kept it confidential for two years, and now, finally, the Bolan is being replaced by the Suzuki Every. While this seems like a sudden decision, it was actually part of Suzuki’s longest and riskiest strategic move in recent history.

But why? After 40 years, why did Suzuki decide to discontinue their best-selling vehicle? The answer is ahead:

Fierce Competition from Changan Karvaan

Yes, if you visit the motorway or GT road, you’ll mostly see the Changan Karvaan, a commercial minivan used for inner-city travel. As for the Bolan, there was really no competition with the Karvaan in this segment, as it had outperformed this 40-year-old boxy van.

While the Bolan was much cheaper than the Karvaan, it was more of a solid, weight-bearing pickup with a roof. It lacked features like AC, had a very stiff ride, and had poor suspension, and overall, it wasn’t suited for comfortably carrying passengers, especially for inter-city travel.

On the other hand, the Karvaan is a reliable minivan equipped with AC, comfortable seating, good cabin insulation, and a larger engine. It has become so popular that around 80% of private commercial inter-city minivans are now Karvaan.

Every – Suzuki’s Answer to Changan Karvaan

Suzuki recognized that if they didn’t act, Karvaan would be the only dominant player in the minivan market. In response to Karvaan’s success, they decided to introduce the Suzuki Every.

Changan, being a 1300cc invoice of Rs. 30 lacs, is expected to be Rs. 3-4 lacs more expensive than Every, which has an expected price tag of Rs. 26 lacs. Suzuki’s vehicle has a 660cc engine, making it more fuel-efficient than the 1300cc engine. In terms of driving experience, it’s expected to be nearly on par with the Karvaan, plus it will carry the trusted Suzuki emblem.

So, while the Suzuki Every may not be the best option for intercity travel on the motorway with 5-6 adult passengers on board due to its small 660cc engine, it will certainly give tough competition to the Karvaan for city uses. Some segments where we think the Every can compete with the Karvaan include:

  • School pick-and-drop services
  • Office staff pick-and-drop services
  • In-city cargo delivery services
  • Family travel, especially bigger families, which are concerned with fuel average
  • Government offices and NGOs for fieldwork
  • Utility vehicle for small businesses

Bolan Was Literally Too Outdated Vehicle 

We know that Bolan was the first choice of small businesses, school pick-and-drop drivers, and cargo delivery companies, but it was way too old for today’s time. It didn’t have any AC, hard-rock leaf springs with 0 comfort on the back, and a tiny 800cc that only outputs 37 HP. The only technological change in this car was the EFI that Suzuki added back in 2012. Except that it was exactly the same thing that Suzuki used to offer in 1980, “Carry ST90” in Japan.

Changan Karvaan is better designed and more comfortable, and the main thing is that it has good AC performance. Due to AC, drivers could charge a premium from customers and, hence, more profit! That’s why, today, you’ll see inter-city private drivers mainly using this Changan minivan, even though it’s almost 11 lacs more expensive than Bolan.

This was just our opinion; let us know what you think. From our perspective, Changan Karvaan was the biggest reason why Suzuki is bringing Every to Pakistan.