ISLAMABAD – After nearly six years on Pakistani roads, Kia Picanto’s journey is coming to end. Launched in 2019 as Kia’s entry into 1,000cc hatchback market, the compact car struggled to win over enough buyers. Now, new bookings have stopped and Picanto disappeared from Kia Pakistan’s lineup.
Picanto was launched locally in 2019 with the ambition of carving out space in Pakistan’s 1,000cc category, but Lucky Motor Corporation (LMC) has discontinued the car after six-years.
The 1,000cc city car has been removed from Kia Pakistan’s current lineup and new bookings have been closed, effectively bringing its local sales and production journey to an end. LMC, however, has yet to issue a detailed public statement explaining the decision.
Picanto entered Pakistan in September 2019 as Kia’s answer to the fiercely competitive small-hatchback segment. But despite its modern image and availability with an automatic transmission, the model struggled to build the sales momentum needed to challenge established rivals.
KIA hatchback faced intense competition from Suzuki’s established hatchbacks, while Pakistani buyers in segment traditionally place considerable emphasis on purchase price, fuel economy, resale value, maintenance costs and easy access to spare parts.
Picanto faced low sales and the car also faced criticism over resale value and maintenance-related costs, further limiting its appeal among budget-conscious buyers. Another problem was its pricing. Reports indicate that the Picanto’s ex-factory price eventually climbed, making it increasingly difficult for the hatchback to compete in the value-focused segment.
Picanto’s automatic version developed a niche following among urban motorists, particularly in major cities. However, the manual transmission variant reportedly failed to generate comparable demand. This limited overall volumes and made it harder for LMC to maintain the model as a competitive locally assembled offering.
The car also faced competition from buyers’ growing preference for larger SUVs and crossovers, while newer Chinese automakers have introduced additional alternatives into Pakistan’s rapidly changing automobile market.
Yet the model never managed to match the sales strength of long-established competitors. Available market information suggests its volumes remained relatively low. The model’s exit is particularly notable because Pakistan’s overall automobile market has seen periods of recovery. The Picanto, however, failed to translate that recovery into enough demand to secure its long-term future.
There was another major gap between Pakistan and international markets. The locally assembled car was based on the second-generation Picanto, originally introduced globally in 2011. When the model arrived in Pakistan in 2019, Kia had already moved on to the third-generation Picanto in international markets.
The newer international model subsequently received styling and technology updates, leaving Pakistani customers with an older-generation product.
For thousands of Pakistani Picanto owners, the immediate concern is after-sales support. The end of new bookings does not mean existing vehicles will suddenly lose dealership support. LMC is expected to continue providing maintenance and spare-parts services through Kia’s nationwide network.
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