For a long time now, Maruti Suzuki India's experience with the premium car segment had not been good. The manufacturer failed to leave a mark on the market with the Baleno sedan, the Grand Vitara SUV, and the Kizashi, which was an entry-level luxury sedan. Last year, the company launched the S-Cross and started selling it through its network of premium NEXA dealerships. However, the S-Cross' market performance has not been up to the mark either. But it was the Baleno hatchback that made Maruti's fortunes turn for the better in the premium segment in 2015, which encouraged the carmaker to add more products to its line-up. The Vitara Brezza was launched in March 2016, and it has also turned out to be one of Maruti's biggest successes.
The MD and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Kenichi Ayukawa, feels the market trend buyers would appreciate more premium cars. If we take a look at current trends, the Baleno selling over 9,000 units in July adds weight to Ayukawa's beliefs. Here, we would like to tell you that both the Vitara Brezza and the Baleno feature in the list of top 10 cars sold in India in July. The Vitara Brezza clocked over 10,000 sales, while the Baleno sold 9,120 units in July.
There are also reports of Maruti Suzuki planning a rival for the Renault Kwid. Renault, with the addition of a 1.0-litre engine option for the Kwid, has put Maruti Suzuki's Alto nameplate under pressure. Ayukawa has also hinted at Maruti Suzuki planning a whole new generation of the Alto.
With more launches and a new generation of the Alto, Maruti Suzuki India hopes to attain 10 per cent growth over its current market share in India. The carmaker commands 47 per cent of the market and to increase it, the company plans to add a third shift to its Gurugram and Manesar plants. Also worth noting is the company's upcoming plant in Gujarat which would increase the carmaker's production capacity by 2.5 lakh units per year.
Source: Zigwheels.com
