Maruti plans another car for the entry-level segment - Report

09/02/2016 - 21:57 Maruti Alto, Maruti Suzuki Aravind Jayachandran

Likely part of the 15 product launches by 2020.

Maruti Suzuki India managing director and chief executive officer Kenichi Ayukawa has divulged that the company is planning to introduce a new entry-level car.

Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 Onam Limited Edition side official — Currently, the Alto is the only vehicle for Maruti in the entry-level segment. It's not only India's best selling small car, but also globally.

Ayukawa said:

Reviewing the market and offerings we are developing a new product for that segment. Already we are planning a product but we have to review the market and decide which product and which kind of model.

Maruti is reported to launch 15 products by 2020 and the A-Segment car is likely part of this group. The report states that in the April-January period of the current financial year, the mini segment has seen a modest growth of 4.4%. As the flavour of the season is crossovers, the model could be a high-riding A-Segment vehicle with a rugged look, slotting under the Maruti Ignis programmed to launch in the festival season.

Renault Kwid 1.0 front quarter at the Auto Expo 2016 — Adding pressure on Maruti is the runaway success of the Renault Kwid, which has garnered close to 1,00,000 bookings since the launch.

Also Read: Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Ford EcoSport vs Mahindra TUV300

Also adding pressure on Maruti is the Renault Kwid, which has become a runaway success for the French manufacturer, garnering about 1,00,000 bookings since its launch in September. Despite the Maruti Alto holding the mantle as the best seller in the segment, Renault will introduce the more-powerful 1.0-liter and AMT variants of the Kwid, which could increase its chances of finding buyers who were planning on the Alto.

[Source: Financial Express]