Suzuki Bolan Production Officially Ends Now in Pakistan

Suzuki Bolan: This car is probably older than you think. Fortunately, Pak Suzuki has called it quits after 40 years of service in Pakistan’s commercial pickup industry. This is the most historic moment in the history of Pakistan’s automobile industry. Although Bolan is replaced by Suzuki Every, still Bolan has its iconic image in Pakistan.

At this historical moment, let’s take a look at Suzuki Bolan’s history in Pakistan.

International History of Suzuki Bolan

Internationally, it was the Suzuki Carry, and the particular model we got in Pakistan was the 7th generation Carry, also known as the ‘Suzuki Carry ST-90’, which was produced internationally from 1979 to 1985.

It was discontinued in 1985 and replaced by the 8th generation Carry, also known as the “DA-71 Carry.”. However, in the same year, Pak Suzuki decided to introduce the outdated and discontinued 7th generation Carry to Pakistan and renamed it “Suzuki Bolan.”. And the rest is history.

A Timeless Icon in Pakistan’s Automotive History

Bolan revolutionized the local commercial market. Before the Bolan in 1985, commercial pickup owners had only one option: buy a full-size commercial pickup like the Shehzore or Minivan.

Then Bolan entered the market. Its combination of practicality and affordability was exactly what the market needed at the time. It was small, cheap, had a small engine, and was super adaptable for any commercial purpose.

Due to its super low price, it has become a super hit in the country and one of the popular small business utility vehicles. It was so popular that Suzuki kept this car in production for 40 years without any change. But today it is confirmed by a source that Bolan’s production has been discontinued at the factory.

Upgrades in Suzuki Bolan in these 43 Years

After 24 years of production, in 2012, Suzuki decided to replace the carbureted Bolana engine with an EFI engine. No, they didn’t do it themselves, but because of government regulations and compliance with EFI engines in every brand new vehicle made in Pakistan.

Along with this, Pak Suzuki introduced a major facelift where they changed the color of the dashboard from yellow to gray and changed the shape of the front headlights from round to square. Since then, it has remained the same without any changes.

In 2022, Suzuki also tried to fit the AC into the Bolan, but that project failed and ended with the AC variant being dropped from the Bolan line-up after just 4 months.

Suzuki Bolan Production Officially Ends in Pakistan

It’s official: it’s the end of the famous “Carry Dabba” Suzuki Bolan’s journey in Pakistan. It’s been a few years since the news that it would be discontinued, but now it’s official because there won’t be a new Bolan on the roads. The news started doing the rounds on social media after a photo surfaced of the incomplete vehicle with a poster that read, ‘Goodbye Y88V Bolan’, end of production, and last chassis number 01151691. A company representative confirmed the news to Top Classifieds Pakistan, saying, “Yes, it was the last batch.”

So it ends, the Suzuki Bolan will be no more and will soon be replaced by the new Suzuki Every. It was a long wait for Pakistani consumers as the vehicle was certainly outdated, without any basic specifications or safety features. People bought it because there was no other option until Changan Karvaan was launched. The Suzuki Bolan was criticized for its very simple and ten-year-old shape, lack of comfort, and a certain kind of danger on the roads. Consumers have been clamoring for it to be replaced, and it seems Suzuki has finally listened.

Replacement of Bolan

It was expected to be phased out by the company in 2021 after a Lahore High Court verdict ordered the Technical Development Council, the auto industry’s regulatory body, to ensure that all carmakers fit vehicles with airbags. However, the company denied the rumors at the time. In 2022, the automaker offered an AC variant of the Suzuki Bolan, which unfortunately had a very short life and was discontinued in the same year.

Now the question is which car will replace the legendary Bolan or “Carry Dabba.” The answer is simple, as mentioned earlier, Suzuki Every. The company unveiled the new Every for a local launch at the last Lahore Motor Show, but the launch kept getting delayed due to various reasons, including the LC ban and the subsequent import of CKD kits. However, it is confirmed that the company will launch the new Suzuki Every in the second week of October 2024, marking the end of the journey for the Bolan and the beginning of a new journey for the Every.

Also read: How To Sell Your Car Fast in Pakistan: The Ultimate Guide