SUVs and MPVs help Maruti Suzuki clock 15% jump in car sales in March

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 01 Apr 2024, 17:24 PM

Models like Fronx, Brezza and Grand Vitara continue to lead Maruti Suzuki’s charge in the SUV segment while Ertiga and XL6 power the carmaker in MPV s

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Maruti SUVs
Maruti Suzuki continues to witness increase in sales of its utility vehicles with SUVs like Fronx, Brezza, Grand Vitara and Jimny.

Utility vehicles have proved to be the game-changer for Maruti Suzuki yet again as the carmaker recorded a 15 per cent jump in passenger car sales in March. With the help of SUVs and MPVs like Brezza and Ertiga among others, Maruti clocked more than 1.52 lakh sales last month. While the utility vehicle segment continues to witness rise in sales, the compact cars like Baleno and Swift continues a downslide for the carmaker. Overall, Maruti Suzuki ended the financial year with record sales of more than 21 lakh cars.

Compact cars from Maruti Suzuki continues to be the biggest contributor to its sales despite falling numbers. Maruti sells models like Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift and WagonR in this segment. In March, Maruti clocked 71,832 units in the segment which is lower than 69,844 units it could sell during the same month last year. Maruti is expected to see some upward movement in the segment when it launches the facelift version of the Swift and Dzire sometime later this year.

The biggest gainer among Maruti cars are its SUVs and MPVs. With sales of 58,436 units in March, Maruti saw an impressive 57 per cent increase over 37,054 units sold in March last year. SUVs like Brezza, Fronx and Grand Vitara remain the best-selling models for Maruti in this segment. In the MPV segment, Ertiga and XL6 remain among the top-selling models.

Also Read : EVs and CNG cars power Tata Motors in March with 14% increase in sales.

Small cars like Alto and S-Presso also saw rise in sales in the last month of the fiscal. The two models found 11,829 takers in March, marginally higher than 11,582 unit sales during the same month last year. Ciaz, the only mid-size sedan in Maruti’s lineup, saw only 590 units dispatched last month.

Also Read : Hyundai Creta walks away with another record month, 16,458 units sold in March.

Overall, Maruti sold 21.35 lakh cars in the last 12 months, a record for India’s largest car manufacturer. Out of these, Maruti’s sale in India was nearly 17.60 lakh with almost 10 per cent increase over the last financial year. In FY2023-24, Maruti’s overall exports also hit a record of 2.83 lakh units. In March alone, Maruti exported 25,892 units.

First Published Date: 01 Apr 2024, 17:24 PM IST

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Opinion: Maruti's upcoming hybrid tech is a masterstroke

by with One Comment car updatesElectric vehicles carsmaruti suzuki carNew Car Launch

Maruti’s upcoming hybrid tech is a masterstroke

Maruti Swift hybrid with green EV number plate

A few days ago we broke the news of Maruti’s plans to introduce its series hybrid technology in India in more affordable offerings like the Fronx, next-gen Baleno and next-gen Swift, among others. And here’s why I think this technology is going to be a game changer in the truest sense. 

Series hybrid vehicles, also referred to as range-extenders or self-charging electric vehicles, work in a manner that’s similar to an electric vehicle (EV). The battery-powered electric motor directly drives the wheels, with the only difference being that the battery doesn’t need to be plugged in; instead the models are fitted with on-board generators to recharge the battery. This generator is run by a petrol engine. A point to note is that its petrol engine never drives the wheels directly.

Where things get really interesting is that according to the Department of Revenue, an EV “that runs solely on electrical energy derived from an external source or from electrical batteries” qualifies under the 5 percent GST bracket. 

Further, even the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989 (amended in 2002) defines an EV “as a vehicle intended for road use, powered exclusively by an electric motor whose traction energy is supplied exclusively by a traction battery installed in the vehicle”.

There’s no mention of tailpipe emissions having been referenced or considered as a factor to define an EV. Which could technically define Maruti’s upcoming range-extenders as EVs, thus qualifying them for the lower GST slab.

This could give these upcoming Marutis a significant price advantage over other ICE cars in the market, including strong hybrids. Not only are these likely to be incredibly efficient, but their on-board generators will eliminate range anxiety associated with EVs, which could make this tech ideal for our market, where charging infrastructure remains at a nascent stage. The question is, will Maruti Suzuki be able to reap the benefits of this grey area in the rulebook and convince authorities to levy a lower GST rate? We’ll know very soon.

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WagonR, Baleno and Swift continue to power Maruti Suzuki through February

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Baleno and Swift continue to power Maruti Suzuki through February

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 01 Mar 2024, 16:47 PM

  • Maruti Suzuki is currently preparing to launch the new-gen Swift in the Indian market.
Maruti Jimny Grand Vitara NCC car rally
Image used for representational purposes only. (Image courtesy: X/@HQ_DG_NCC)

India’s largest four-wheeler manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, has announced sales figures for February. Maruti Suzuki sold a total of 1,97,471 units, which consists of domestic sales of 163,397 units, sales to other OEMs of 5,147 units and exports of 28,927 units.

The compact segment was the most popular as the brand sold 71,627 units in February 2024. It consists of vehicles like Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, Tour S and WagonR. Then there were the utility vehicles, which consisted of Brezza, Ertiga, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Invicto, Jimny, S-Cross and XL6. The sales figures stood at 61,234 units. Ciaz and Eeco sold 481 and 12,147 units, respectively.

Affordable compact vehicles such as Alto and S-Presso are still very popular as the brand sold a combined 14,782 units of those. The rest of the sales numbers come from Super Carry, which is a light commercial vehicle and sales to other OEMs.

From April to February, the most popular models for Maruti Suzuki were WagonR, Baleno and Swift. SUVs accounted for 51.5 per cent of overall sales for Maruti Suzuki.

Also Read : Brezza, Grand Vitara, Fronx star in Maruti’s SUV rush in FY 2023-24

The brand is currently preparing to launch a new generation of Swift in the Indian market. The hatchback has already been revealed in Japan and will soon be making its way to Indian shores. The hatchback will not only get some major cosmetic upgrades but it would also get an all-new engine.

The new engine is a three-cylinder unit as compared to the four-cylinder unit that we currently get in the Indian market. Suzuki says that this change has been done in favour of more low-end torque and more fuel efficiency. In the global market, the new engine comes mated to a CVT automatic transmission. It is expected that the Indian market will still get a 5-speed manual gearbox and an AMT transmission.

First Published Date: 01 Mar 2024, 16:47 PM IST

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Maruti Cars

Brezza, Grand Vitara, Fronx star in Maruti’s SUV rush in FY 2023-24

by with No Comment car updatesHybrid Carsmaruti suzuki carNew Car Launch

Fronx star in Maruti’s SUV

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  • Maruti Suzuki ended February as India’s second largest SUV manufacturer behind segment leader Mahindra and Mahindra.
Maruti SUVs
Maruti Suzuki’s dominance in the SUV market has been buoyed by vehicles such as Fronx, Grand Vitara, Brezza and Jimny. The carmaker is currently close second to Mahindra in the SUV segment in terms of sales.

Maruti Suzuki continues to benefit from its sport utility vehicles (SUVs) as it remains one of the largest manufacturers in the segment for the Financial Year 2023-24. From April last year to February 2024, Maruti has sold more than four lakh SUVs, which include the likes of Brezza, Grand Vitara, Fronx, Jimny and S-Cross. Though the carmaker had briefly become India’s largest SUV manufacturer last year, the crown has been retaken by Mahindra and Mahindra, the maker of Scorpio-N, Thar and XUV700 among others. However, Maruti Suzuki plans to continue with its SUV offensive and aims to increase its sales in the coming days.

36 KM Mileage Car

From small and compact cars to small and compact SUVs – Maruti Suzuki’s shift towards the more popular body-type in passenger vehicle segment has been rapid. In the last two years, the carmaker has driven in as many as four models, including the Grand Vitara, Fronx and Jimny. Maruti Suzuki said that it has sold 4,04,114 units of sport utility vehicles in the ongoing financial year. However, it admitted that it is likely to fail in meeting estimates of selling around 4.50 lakh SUVs within the same fiscal.

In February, Maruti Suzuki delivered 41,256 units of SUVs. Brezza, Fronx and Grand Vitara contributed the bulk of the sales in the segment. Currently, Maruti Suzuki has a little more than 20 per cent market share. The Jimny, one of the most anticipated launches that took place last year, has not been as successful as some of its siblings. However, it managed to increase its sales to 514 last month from the low of 163 units in January this year.

Compared to its rival Mahindra and Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki ended February just short by nearly 1,200 SUVs. Mahindra sold 42,401 units last month, mostly through its popular Scorpio brand which is available in Scorpio-N and Scorpio Classic versions. Jimny’s sales performance could be one of the factors why Maruti Suzuki may not hit the 4.50-lakh unit sales in the segment by March-end. Its performance could also be the reason why Maruti is currently lagging behind Mahindra in terms of market share in the SUV segment.

First Published Date: 01 Mar 2024, 16:36 PM IST

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Maruti Suzuki sales in November rises marginally, small cars biggest contributor

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Maruti Suzuki continues to ride high on its small cars as it remains firmly on top of the list of biggest carmakers in India in November. Maruti Suzuki delivered 1.34 lakh units across India last month, up from 1.32 lakh units it clocked in November last year. Though small cars like Alto, Baleno, Swift and WagonR remain the biggest volume drivers for Maruti, the marginal one per cent growth for the carmaker came from its SUV lineup which includes models like Brezza, Grand Vitara and Fronx as well as MPVs like Ertiga and XL6.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 01 Dec 2023, 15:47 PM

Maruti Suzuki Fronx
Small cars from Maruti Suzuki continues to drive the carmaker’s sales in India. More than 50 per cent of Maruti’s sales come from models like Alto, Baleno, Swift and WagonR. (HT Auto/Sabyasachi Dasgupta)

On Friday, Maruti Suzuki released its sales report for November. According to the report, Maruti’s smallest offerings Alto and S-Presso contributed 9,959 units last month, down from 18,251 units during the same month last year. Its hatchback segment, which also includes models like Celerio, Dzire and Ignis, contributed 64,679 units to overall sales. However, this segment too, saw a drop from 72,844 units sold in November last year. Overall, both these segments saw nearly 20 per cent drop in sales.

Also Read : Creta, Venue help Hyundai clock growth in November sales

The biggest gainers for Maruti Suzuki in November were its SUVs and MPVs. The lineup, which includes models like Brezza, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Jimny, S-Cross, Ertiga, Invicto and XL6, clocked 49,016 units in November this year. During the same month last year, Maruti’s utility vehicles had contributed 32,563 units. However, Maruti Suzuki did not have models like Fronx, Jimny or Invicto in its lineup back then. EECO, the sole van in Maruti’s line-up, contributed 10,226 units last month.

Also Read : Nexon, Harrier, Safari facelift SUVs fail to boost Tata sales in November

Maruti Suzuki has intensified its SUV game in India. India’s leading passenger vehicle manufacturer had reported about 80 per cent hike in profit in the last three months thanks to the rise in demand for its SUVs. Maruti Suzuki currently leads the SUV segment in India with new-age models introduced in the past one year or so. Models like Grand Vitara and Fronx, which feature as some of India’s top-selling models, have added to Maruti’s tally led by sub-compact SUV Brezza as well as the latest entrant Jimny five-door off-road SUV.

In terms of exports too, Maruti Suzuki has grown last month despatching 22,950 units across its global markets. It is a growth of around 15 per cent compared to 19,738 units exported by the carmaker in November last year.

First Published Date: 01 Dec 2023, 15:47 PM IST

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Maruti Suzuki to hike prices of its cars from January

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If you are planning to buy a Maruti Suzuki car soon, you have just one month to drive home one before it gets costlier. Maruti Suzuki, India’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced today (November 27) that it will increase the price of its models from New Year. The new prices will be applicable from January 1 next year. However, Maruti Suzuki has not specified if the fresh price hike will be applicable across all models and also the rate of price increase. The latest hike in Maruti Suzuki car prices will be implemented due to rising production costs.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 27 Nov 2023, 14:56 PM

Maruti Suzuki
Maruti Suzuki has announced that it will increase the prices of its cars in India from January 1 next year. (REUTERS)

On Monday, a regulatory filing from Maruti Suzuki said that the hike has become necessary due to ‘increased cost pressure driven by overall inflation and increased commodity prices.’ However, the carmaker assured that it is taking steps to minimise its effect on buyers. It said, “While the company makes maximum efforts to reduce cost and offset the increase, it may have to pass on some increase to the market. This price increase shall vary across models.”

Maruti Suzuki has not specified the quantum of the proposed price hike. The carmaker currently sells small to mid-size cars with few in the compact or large segment. Alto, its entry-level model as well as the smallest car in its lineup, comes at a starting price of ₹3.54 lakh (ex-showroom). The Invicto MPV, based on Toyota Innova HyCross, is the largest car Maruti sells. The price of Invicto starts from ₹24.80 lakh (ex-showroom).

Also Read : Audi cars in India all set to get more expensive from new year 2024

Models like Baleno, Swift and WagonR are the three top-selling cars from the Maruti stable. These three cars generally are the highest selling vehicles in India on a monthly basis. Of late, Maruti Suzuki has also stepped up its SUV game, and has become the largest SUV manufacturer with models like Brezza, Fronx, Grand Vitara and Jimny as offerings. Maruti Suzuki has grabbed 22% of the SUV market share, so far in FY24, which is quite close to its target of 25% for the financial year. The Grand Vitara compact SUV, rival to the likes of Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, recently became the fastest model in its category to clock one lakh sales since its launch last year.

First Published Date: 27 Nov 2023, 14:56 PM IST

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Urban Cruiser Taisor nameplate trademarked in India. Is this Toyota’s Fronx-based SUV?

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has trademarked the ‘Urban Cruiser Taisor’ nameplate in India and it’s quite likely that this will be the name of the automaker’s upcoming subcompact SUV. The automaker exited the subcompact SUV space with the discontinuation of the Urban Cruiser (badge-engineered Vitara Brezza) and will re-enter with another badge-engineered Maruti, the Fronx. This is expected to be the brand’s next launch after the Toyota Rumion.

By: Sameer Fayaz Contractor
| Updated on: 11 Aug 2023, 12:20 PM

The Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor name has been trademarked, which stems the possibility of a new subcompact SUV based on the Maruti Suzuki Fronx

The Maruti Suzuki Fronx shares its underpinnings with the new generation Baleno but gets a more butch look inspired by the Grand Vitara. It won’t be surprising if Toyota opts for a styling similar to its Urban Cruiser Hyryder. What we do know is that the Fronx and the upcoming Taisor are likely to share most components, as badge-engineered models tend to be. Expect to see a revised grille, tailgate, bumpers, and new alloys among subtle styling updates to make it visually different from the Maruti Suzuki Fronx.

Also Read : Hyundai Exter vs Tata Punch vs Maruti Suzuki Fronx: Price, Features & Specs compared

The 1.2-litre NA petrol is the more popular option on the Maruti Suzuki Fronx. It needs to be seen if the Toyota Taisor gets the turbo petrol too
The 1.2-litre NA petrol is the more popular option on the Maruti Suzuki Fronx. It needs to be seen if the Toyota Taisor gets the turbo petrol too (HT Auto/Sabyasachi Dasgupta)

The cabin will largely retain the same design and equipment levels with minor tweaks including new upholstery, colours and more. The Fronx is fairly loaded with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 360-degree camera, a head-up display, wireless charging and more.

The Fronx is offered with two engine options including the 1.0-litre BoosterJet turbo petrol with 99 bhp and 147 Nm of peak torque, as well as the more popular 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol with 88 bhp. It’s unclear as to which engine option will be offered on Taisor. Both engines are paired with a 5-speed manual. Automatic transmission options include a 6-speed torque converter on the turbo petrol, whereas the 1.2 NA uses a more cost-effective 5-speed AMT.

Watch: Maruti Suzuki Fronx SUV: First Drive Review

If Toyota opts to retail the turbo petrol engine, it will be a first for the automaker in India. That said, a CNG variant is also likely to join the stable considering it’s already available on the Fronx. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor is expected to arrive around the festive period this year. But before that, the automaker is gearing up to introduce the Rumion, which is another badge-engineered offering based on the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. The company will also begin deliveries of the Vellfire from November onwards.

First Published Date: 11 Aug 2023, 12:20 PM IST

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Hyundai Exter receives more than 50,000 bookings, AMT is in demand

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Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has announced that they have received more than 50,000 bookings for the Exter. Bookings grew from 10,000 to 50,000 in just 30 days of launch. Hyundai has also revealed that more than one-third of the bookings are for the AMT variants. Hyundai Exter’s main rival is the Tata Punch. The Exter is currently priced between ₹6 lakh and ₹10 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom and introductory.

By: Paarth Khatri
| Updated on: 09 Aug 2023, 14:21 PM

Hyundai Exter is the tallest and has the longest wheelbase in its segment. (HT Auto/Sabyasachi Dasgupta)

The Exter is being sold in seven variants. There is EX, EX(O), S, S(O), SX, SX(O) and SX(O) Connect. Hyundai Exter is offered with a 3-year (unlimited kilometres warranty) along with an option of 7 years of extended warranty. The micro SUV is available with 6 Monotone and 3 Dual tone exterior colour options.

The Exter really made a mark in the market by offering several segment-first features. It comes with footwell lighting, metal pedals, a shark-fin antenna, a smart electric sunroof, a dashcam with dual cameras, a wireless charger, rear AC vents, premium floor mats, paddle shifters, on-board navigation and support for multiple languages.

Powering the Exter is a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine that is doing duty on other Hyundai models. It produces 81.86 bhp of max power and 113.8 Nm of peak torque. While running on CNG, these figures are reduced to 68 bhp and 95.2 Nm. The max power arrives at 6,000 rpm while the peak torque output arrives at 4,000 rpm.

The Petrol powertrain comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed AMT. The CNG powertrain only gets a 5-speed manual gearbox. The engine is quite smooth and refined. Moreover, the manual gearbox also slots in with a positive feel and while the AMT gearbox shifts with a minimal head nod, making it one of the best AMTs in the market. Interestingly, the Exter AMT is also offered with paddle shifters.

Watch: Hyundai Exter SUV: First Drive Review

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said, “With Hyundai EXTER, we have continued our pursuit of democratizing advanced technology, superior quality, next-gen features, safety and comfort for customers. This SUV has redefined benchmarks in the country and offers customers superior safety with 6 Airbags as standard and ESC, VSM, HAC available across all trims as option. The response to EXTER is euphoric, so much so that the bookings have zoomed from 10,000 prelaunch to 50,000 plus in less than 30 days of launch. What is also interesting to witness is that the trims with sunroof constitute more than 75% of total bookings signaling a big thumbs up from the customers for the segment raising benchmark features introduced in the EXTER. HMIL would like to sincerely thank our customers for their trust and love for Hyundai EXTER and we are confident that the Hyundai SUV Life will continue to elevate their aspirations.”

First Published Date: 09 Aug 2023, 14:21 PM IST

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