Lucky Motor Corporation removes hatchback from official lineup and reportedly stops accepting new bookings
KARACHI: Lucky Motor Corporation (LMC) has reportedly discontinued the KIA Picanto in Pakistan, bringing an end to the locally assembled hatchback’s nearly six-year presence in the domestic automobile market.
Although LMC has not formally announced the discontinuation, the company has removed the Picanto from its official vehicle lineup and stopped accepting new bookings. The move indicates that KIA is withdrawing the model from Pakistan as the company reshapes its product portfolio.
LMC introduced the Picanto locally in September 2019, positioning the compact hatchback as an affordable and fuel-efficient vehicle for urban consumers. The company assembled the model in Pakistan and marketed it with modern features aimed at buyers seeking a practical city car.
Weak sales reportedly contributed to exit
Despite generating considerable interest at launch, the Picanto struggled to capture a substantial share of Pakistan’s highly competitive hatchback segment.
Industry observers have linked the decision to consistently weak sales. Moreover, customers frequently raised concerns about the vehicle’s resale value and the availability of spare parts compared with established competitors.
Pricing also presented a challenge. As the Picanto became more expensive than some key rivals, Pakistani consumers increasingly prioritized affordability, strong resale value, accessible after-sales services and readily available replacement parts.
Consequently, changing market preferences further weakened the hatchback’s competitive position.
KIA continues Picanto sales internationally
While the Picanto appears to have reached the end of its journey in Pakistan, KIA continues selling the updated third-generation model in several international markets.
The latest overseas version features a second facelift with substantial styling and equipment upgrades. KIA has redesigned its exterior, introduced updated lighting elements and refreshed the cabin.
Furthermore, newer versions offer improved technology and additional safety features designed to maintain the Picanto’s competitiveness in the global compact-car segment.
Meanwhile, LMC continues expanding KIA’s Pakistani portfolio in other categories, including SUVs and electrified vehicles, reflecting growing consumer interest in larger and newer-generation models.
