Islamabad – Honda BR-V’s The journey is coming to an end in Pakistan. Honda’s first local 7-seater was introduced in 2017 as a family crossover which is now being phased out as the company shifts its focus to new models and hybrids.

The model, which was launched in Pakistan on 21 April 2017, has been removed from Honda Pakistan’s official line-up, while the company has confirmed that local production has ended.

The development marks the end of production of the first-generation BR-V in Pakistan, where it remained in assembly from 2017 to 2026, although the model has already reached the end of its lifecycle in several other international markets.

The BR-V occupies a unique position in the domestic lineup of the Honda Atlas. It was the company’s first seven-seater vehicle to be assembled in Pakistan and was marketed as a practical crossover aimed at families looking for extra seating, high ground clearance and Honda’s brand appeal. Assembled at Honda’s Lahore plant, the BR-V is powered by a 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC petrol engine that produces around 118 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque.

The vehicle was initially offered with both manual and automatic transmissions, although the manual version was later phased out. Honda also introduced a facelift in 2019, updating the model’s appearance while retaining its basic first-generation platform. The BR-V entered the market with a price tag of around Rs 2.23 million to Rs 2.33 million. By the time it reached the end of its local run, its price had risen to around Rs 5.7 million to Rs 6.4 million.

Honda Atlas has not publicly identified a single reason for discontinuing the BR-V. However, the model struggled to match the sales volume of Honda’s more successful products, particularly the City and Civic.

The situation becomes more difficult after Honda introduces the HR-V in Pakistan in 2022. The new crossover offered a more modern design and positioned itself closer to the growing SUV and crossover segment, where consumer demand was changing rapidly.

Figures for the BR-V and HR-V reported by industry data have generally been modest compared to Honda’s base models. While Honda’s overall sales have rebounded in recent times, most of the improvement has been driven by the City and Civic rather than the BR-V.

Another factor behind the BR-V’s exit was the age of its core product. The vehicle continued to use the first generation platform even as newer crossovers entered the Pakistani market with advanced styling, technology, safety equipment and powertrain options. The original BR-V had already been phased out in several international markets, making it increasingly difficult to justify its continued production in Pakistan as competition increased.

Pakistani consumers have shown increasing interest in modern crossovers and SUVs, while Chinese automakers have entered the market with new and feature-rich alternatives. Economic pressures have added to the challenge. Currency fluctuations, tax changes, import restrictions, localization issues and changes in production costs have affected Pakistan’s automotive sector in recent years.

The closure comes even as the Honda Atlas is increasingly focusing on its strongest products. With the company’s locally assembled lineup now focused on the City, Civic and HR-V, hybrid technology is becoming an increasingly important part of its product strategy.

Honda introduced the HR-V e Hybrid in Pakistan in July 2025, reflecting the company’s wider focus on hybrid vehicles as it transitions to electrification. The auto dev pointed out that hybrids currently offer a more viable route to the Pakistan market, where charging infrastructure and wider readiness for fully electric vehicles is still developing.

This strategy leaves little room for aging, relatively low-volume models such as the BR-V.

Despite the departure of the BR-V, the Honda Atlas has not announced a direct replacement. There are speculations about a future seven-seater crossover or MPV, but the company has not officially confirmed any such model for Pakistan. Currently, the HR-V is Honda’s locally assembled crossover, while the City and Civic continue to anchor the company’s sedan lineup.

Honda’s recent moves further highlight its focus on the HR-V and the hybrid segment. In September 2026, the prices of some HR-V variants were reduced following changes related to hybrid tax. The HR-V e reportedly saw a price cut of around Rs 1.07 million, bringing it to around Rs 9.299 million, while the VTi-S variant saw a drop of Rs 500,000.

Honda has also tried to keep the City below the Rs 5 million mark, by keeping the model within a more competitive price and tax bracket.

The BR-V isn’t the only established model to disappear from Pakistan’s automotive market in recent years. Suzuki discontinued several long-standing products as it gradually modernized its lineup. The WagonR ends its local run around March 2025 after almost 11 years, while the Ravi pickup is also discontinued in 2025. The Bolan had already been phased out as Suzuki moved towards all-new commercial vehicles.

Another recent departure was Kia’s Picanto, which is reported to be discontinued in Pakistan in mid-2026 after several years. These emissions reflect a broader industry trend in which manufacturers are reevaluating models affected by aging platforms, lower sales volumes, changing regulations, higher production costs and changing consumer preferences.

The competitive landscape has changed significantly since the BR-V’s arrival in Pakistan in 2017. Chinese manufacturers and local assembly partners have increased their presence, particularly in the SUV and crossover categories. Brands including Haval and Chery have introduced vehicles offering modern styling, extensive features and new powertrain technologies, putting pressure on established Japanese automakers.