The head of Suzuki in Australia says he still has his “fingers crossed” for a Jimny bakkie, suggesting that such a model “would be awesome”…
It’s a rumour that’s been circulating for several years, but will it ever happen? Well, Suzuki Australia’s general manager, Michael Pachota, says he still has his “fingers crossed” that the Japanese brand will eventually release a Jimny bakkie.
Speaking to CarExpert, Pachota suggested there would indeed be a market Down Under for a light-commercial vehicle (LCV) version of the popular little 4th-generation SUV – particularly one with a loadbed.
“A Jimny ute would be awesome in Australia. A Jimmy anything is awesome in Australia,” the executive admitted, saying he would gladly add new body styles to the existing SUV line-up (which these days comprises both 3- and 5-door derivatives).
“I have my fingers crossed and hope and pray that Suzuki Motor Corporation looks down that path, because there’s a huge market here for Australia,” Pachota told the publication.
It’s not the first time Pachota has called on the brand’s Hamamatsu-based bosses to develop a bakkie version of the Jimny. In fact, as far back as January 2019, he revealed he was “pushing for the development” of such a model. More than 6 year later, he still appears hopeful (this after suggesting in mid-2024 that the project “is not dead”).
Of course, the reveal of the Jimny Sierra Pick Up Style concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon show in January 2019 was what sparked Pachota’s initial comments. Then, in 2020, a Suzuki dealer in New Zealand began offering a single-cab conversion for the Jimny, handing the SUV an aftermarket rear tray.
A little closer to home, Suzuki Auto South Africa published a social-media post – including a manipulated image – on 1 April 2024, saying the “all-new Suzuki Jimny bakkie is finally here”, adding that: “You’ve been asking and we listened!”. Of course, that turned out to be nothing more than an April Fools’ Day gag…
Related content
SA’s 10 best-selling ladder-frame SUVs in H1 2025
