Mahindra XUV 3X0 bookings open, deliveries to start from 26th May

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By: Paarth Khatri
| Updated on: 15 May 2024, 10:04 AM

  • Mahindra XUV 3XO is offered with three engine options and nine variants.
Mahindra XUV 3XO
The Mahindra XUV 3XO comes with a new 6-speed automatic transmission.

Mahindra recently launched the XUV 3XO in the Indian market. It is essentially a heavily updated version of the XUV300. Now, the brand has opened bookings for the XUV 3XO online on the website and at authorised dealerships as well. Mahindra has also announced that they will be commencing deliveries of the sub-compact SUV from 26th May. Having said that, interested customers can already check out the XUV 3X0 at the nearby dealerships.

The XUV 3X0 will be offered with three engine options. There is a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, a 1.2-litre petrol engine with direct-injection and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The direct-injection petrol engine puts out 128 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 230 Nm. The turbo petrol produces 108 bhp and 200 Nm whereas the diesel engine puts out 115 bhp and 300 Nm.

As standard, all engines come mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox whereas the diesel engine also gets a 6-speed AMT. What’s new for the 3XO is the 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission that is now available on both petrol engines.

Also Read : Level 2 ADAS to dual-zone climate control: Mahindra XUV 3XO features explained

Mahindra is offering the XUV 3XO in nine variants. The prices start at ₹7.49 lakh and go up to ₹15.49 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom. The main rivals of the XUV 3XO are the Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue and the upcoming compact SUV from Skoda.

Watch: Mahindra XUV 3XO review: XUV300 reborn with more zeal and style? | Check – Price, Interior, Colours

Some of the highlights of the XUV 3XO are the panoramic sunroof which is the largest in the segment, there is a 360-degree parking camera, dual-zone climate control and auto hold with an electronic parking brake. Then there is the addition of Level 2 ADAS. The hardware is shared with the XUV700. Moreover, there are also three steering modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport.

First Published Date: 15 May 2024, 10:04 AM IST

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Next-gen Maruti Suzuki Swift India launch next month, to get new Z-Series engine

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 15 Apr 2024, 07:54 AM

The fourth-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift is ready to hit the Indian market in May 2024 with a revamped design, new features and a new 1.2-litre Z-Ser

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2024 Suzuki Swift
The fourth-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift is ready to hit the Indian market in May 2024 with a revamped design, new features and a new 1.2-litre Z-Series three-cylinder petrol engine with mild-hybrid technology.

Maruti Suzuki Swift has been making headlines over the last few months. The popular hatchback is all set to receive a completely new generation avatar in May this year, which will come with a revamped design, new features and a new 1.2-litre Z-Series three-cylinder petrol engine with mild-hybrid technology. This is going to be a major update for the Swift after a long time and is expected to boost the appeal of the hatchback further.

The new generation Maruti Suzuki Swift made its global debut at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. Since then, the hatchback has gone on sale in global markets like Europe and Japan. Now, India is going to be added to that list. The India-spec next-generation Swift would be similar to the global model. However, the new generation Swift sits on the same platform as the current model.

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift: Exterior

The new Maruti Suzuki Swift, also codenamed YED, comes with a significantly distinctive visual appearance compared to the outgoing model. It gets a new front profile featuring an updated radiator grille flanked by sharper and redesigned LED projector headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lights. The top variant would get LED fog lamps. The bumper too looks different. Moving to the side profile, the hatchback gets new design alloy wheels, and relocated rear passenger door handles. At the back, the new Swift sports redesigned LED taillights and a revamped bumper. The new Swift is expected to come available in new colour options.

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift: Interior

Moving inside the cabin, the Swift gets a significantly updated dashboard layout sporting a free-standing touchscreen infotainment system and a fully digital instrument cluster. Seat and upholstery materials too come refreshed.

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift: Safety

On the safety front, the new Swift would come with six airbags, ABS with EBD and ESP as standard, a three-point seatbelt for the second-row centre passenger, reverse parking camera. The India-spec Swift may miss out on the 360-degree camera and ADAS that are available in the global model.

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift: Powertrain

The new generation Maruti Suzuki Swift gets a new Z-Series 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, which replaces the current model’s K12 four-cylinder petrol unit. Expect the power and torque output of the new engine to be similar to what the K12 unit generates. The current engine churns out 89 bhp peak power and 113 Nm maximum torque. Expect a five-speed manual unit and AMT option to be available for the new Swift. The biggest highlight would be the mild-hybrid technology that would be available across all the variants.

First Published Date: 15 Apr 2024, 07:54 AM IST

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Rural demand & SUVs propel India’s record-breaking car sales in FY24

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 02 Apr 2024, 07:01 AM

Rapid surges in SUV sales have propelled the growth in rural market sales for all the carmakers in India, while demand for small cars has slumped sign

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SUV
Rapid surges in SUV sales have propelled the growth in rural market sales for all the carmakers in India, while demand for small cars has slumped significantly.

Rural India emerged as the driving force behind the record-breaking sales of passenger vehicle sales in FY24. After registering 41.2 lakh passenger vehicles in the CY23, now the Indian auto industry has sold 40 lakh PVs for the first time in a financial year in FY2024, reported Mint. Interestingly, this growth came despite the sliding numbers of hatchbacks, which conventionally remained the driving force behind the Indian passenger vehicle market as well as the rural PV sales.

The report has stated that in FY24, the Indian passenger vehicle market registered a total of 42.3 lakh units and one in every two cars sold in the country were SUVs. The overall passenger vehicle market in the country witnessed an 8.7 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth over the 38.9 lakh cars sold in the previous financial year, which was another record for the Indian auto industry. Clearly, the sales of the passenger vehicles are on the momentum of creating incremental growth records over the last two financial years.

All OEMs register record rural sales

All the major car manufacturers in India reportedly witnessed all-time-high sales in rural markets in the last financial year. The demand and sales in the rural markets even overtook the urban markets, where the most preferred vehicles are SUVs.

Speaking on the rural demand and sales of Maruti Suzuki, the country’s most-selling passenger vehicle brand, Shashank Srivastava, executive committee member of Maruti Suzuki, said that sales for the OEM in the rural market were 7.87 lakh units, registering an 11 per cent YoY growth. He added that it was much better than the OEM’s urban market growth. “Rural sales of 7.87 lakh units this year, a growth of 11% year-on-year, have been much better than urban growth. Rural growth for the year is about 11% and urban growth is about 7%. And so, this is the highest-ever rural sales that we saw, which also should be a very good signal for the economy,” Srivastava said.

The second bestselling carmaker in India, Hyundai, attributed the rise in rural sales to multiple factors such as infrastructure development, increased access to information, and improved road quality across the country. Tarun Garg, Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor India, said that rural sales for the OEM, for which SUVs account for more than 60 per cent of its total sales, reached a record 19.44 per cent in FY24, up from the previous year’s 18 per cent. This means that nearly one in every five Hyundai cars sold in India in FY24 were sold in rural areas. This signified a burgeoning consumer base beyond urban markets.

For homegrown auto major Tata Motors, rural sales contribute around 40 per cent to the OEM’s total sales. In the past five years, Tata Motors claims to have witnessed a five-times increase in rural market growth. The report quoted a Tata Motors spokesperson revealing that models like Tata Nexon, Punch and Tiago were the company’s highest-selling passenger vehicles in the rural markets in FY24. The OEM also attributed this sales surge to models like Punch CNG and Tiago EV.

What’s driving the surge in rural PV sales

The SUV segment in the Indian passenger vehicle market has been growing at a rapid pace over the last couple of years and it was no different in FY24. In the last fiscal, one in every two passenger vehicles sold in India, were SUVs, becoming the driving factor behind the overall PV sales growth as well as the rural market also. The segment reportedly registered its sharpest growth of 28 per cent in the last fiscal, while sales of hatchbacks or small cars accounted for 28 per cent of the total PV sales volume. The sales of hatchbacks witnessed a 12 per cent slump in the just concluded fiscal, compared to the FY23.

This comes as a major shift in trend. Earlier, the rural markets mostly preferred small cars at the entry level, but over the last couple of years that seems to have changed with aspirations of rural consumers also rising. Speaking on this, Shashank Srivastava said that the percentage sales of smaller cars is still higher in rural areas, but the overall segment construct of the markets is converging. Key factors such as rising rural incomes, higher internet penetration and connectivity are leading this change, Srivastava said. He also said the exponential growth in rural sales isn’t an isolated phenomenon, but a culmination of various factors fostering economic buoyancy in the countryside. “There seems to be a convergence in the segment choices of the rural and the urban consumers with a small lag of time,” the Maruti Suzuki official added.

First Published Date: 02 Apr 2024, 07:01 AM IST

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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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Maruti Suzuki Subscribe crosses 10,000 customers. These cars are most popular

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Maruti Suzuki Subscribe crosses 10,000 customers

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 14 Mar 2024, 17:53 PM

  • Over 50 per cent or about 5,000 of Maruti Suzuki Subscribe customers were added in the current financial year.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Maruti Suzuki Subscribe program witnessed a 44 per cent hike in subscriptions this fiscal garnering over 5,000 customers

Maruti Suzuki’s car leasing program, Subscribe, has achieved a new milestone as it hit 10,000 new car subscription sales. The automaker introduced the Maruti Suzuki Subscribe program in July 2020, bringing a more accessible way to lease cars at attractive monthly payments. The subscription program is in addition to the traditional retail sales channels offered by the automaker.

Maruti Suzuki revealed that a significant chunk of Subscribe customers are based out of major metros with its presence in over 25 cities. Moreover, over 50 per cent or about 5,000 customers were added in the current financial year itself. The carmaker also revealed that its premium cars including the Brezza, Baleno, Grand Vitara and Ertiga are among the most popular models accounting for over 53 per cent of the total subscriptions.

Also Read : Maruti Suzuki Ignis, Baleno, Xl6, Grand Vitara fetching up to ₹87,000 discounts in March.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno
The Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Brezza, Grand Vitara, and Ertiga are the most popular subscription options

The Maruti Suzuki Subscribe program allows customers to select the ownership period based on their requirements. This could vary from a minimum of 12 months to four years. The company offers rental prices according to the tenure. The monthly payments include the car’s cost, insurance, maintenance and more, thereby ensuring a seamless ownership experience.

Commenting on the milestone, Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales – Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “Since its introduction, the Maruti Suzuki Subscribe program has steadily been gaining acceptance among Indian buyers who prefer flexible buying and ownership experience. The vehicle subscription model is gradually gaining momentum in the country, and most of our customers are based out of Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore. Interestingly, over 50 per cent of the total Maruti Suzuki Subscribe customers have been added in the current financial year.”

Maruti Suzuki Subscribe is offered through five partners in the country and registered a 44 per cent growth in FY2023-24 year-to-date (YTD) over FY2023 YTD. The automaker also revealed that 65 per cent of the subscriptions were for 3-4 years, as customers are looking for more flexible vehicle ownership options.

First Published Date: 14 Mar 2024, 17:53 PM IST

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Women’s Day: Maruti Suzuki Arena sold over 9 lakh cars to women

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Maruti Suzuki Arena sold over 9 lakh cars to women

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 08 Mar 2024, 18:58 PM

  • Maruti’s new initiative is aimed at celebrating the growing number of women drivers and influencers in vehicle decisions across the country.
Maruti WagonR Swift Alto
Maruti Suzuki Arena sells majority of manufacturer’s vehicles.

On account of Women’s Day, Maruti Suzuki has announced that they have sold more than 9 lakh cars through their Maruti Suzuki Arena dealerships. In FY23-24, 28 per cent chose Maruti Suzuki’s cars which is up from 18 per cent in FY17-18. The brand will be launching a new campaign called ‘Arena Journeys’ under the Maruti Suzuki Arena. This initiative is aimed at celebrating the growing number of women drivers and influencers in vehicle decisions across the country.

The campaign will include short stories from four well-known women directors such as Tanuja Chandra, Alankrita Shrivastava, Sonam Nair, and Tahira Kashyap Khurrana. The directors will be narrating interesting stories of women.

The first short story will debut on 8th March. Commenting on the launch of the ‘Arena Journeys’, Mr. Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, said, “As industry leaders, Maruti Suzuki India Limited is proud to shine a spotlight on the rising number of women taking charge of the roads. We are proud of the fact that over 9 lakh women buyers have found their right match with Maruti Suzuki Arena. More than 28% of women in FY23-24 chose the brand value of Maruti Suzuki as a reason to purchase. Arena Journeys is more than just a campaign; it’s a testament to the brand’s dedication to inclusivity, empowerment, and customer-centricity.”

Also Read : Maruti Suzuki Jimny available with up to ₹1.50 lakh discounts

Currently, the brand is working on the launch of Swift which is expected to make its debut in the coming months. The hatchback will get some major revisions to the exterior and the interior will have some hints of the Baleno. The biggest change will be the new engine. It will be a new three-cylinder unit that will replace the current four-cylinder unit. Suzuki says that they did this in favour of better fuel efficiency and the engine is supposed to deliver better low-end torque.

First Published Date: 08 Mar 2024, 18:57 PM IST

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Why India is in love with hybrid cars?

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Why India is in love with hybrid cars

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By: Mainak Das
| Updated on: 06 Mar 2024, 15:13 PM

  • Hybrid cars have been increasingly becoming popular across India, bridging the gap between electric cars and ICE models.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
Hybrid cars have been increasingly becoming popular across India, bridging the gap between electric cars and ICE models.

Hybrid cars are gradually gaining higher traction in the Indian passenger vehicle market. Over the last few years, several automakers present in the Indian market have been shifting their focus on bringing in new cleaner and greener powertrain technologies. While the ultimate goal remains steady on battery electric vehicles, hybrid cars are bridging the gap between pure EVs and fossil fuel-propelled models that run on petrol or diesel.

Market data reveals that between September and November 2023, sales of hybrid cars surged significantly surpassing the electric car retail numbers. While electric car sales have been witnessing a marginal slowdown, in sync with the worldwide trend, hybrid cars are recording a ramp-up in growth. As the numbers testify, a total of 24,062 units of hybrid cars were sold between September and November last year, as against 21,455 units of battery electric cars.

The question is why Indians are in love with hybrid cars instead of pure electric vehicles.

Advantages of hybrid technology over pure ICE or EV

It is well known that hybrid cars offer the benefit of both worlds, internal combustion engines (ICE) and electric vehicles (EV), by combining a fossil fuel engine with an electric motor and a battery pack. By blending the best of both worlds, the hybrid powertrain technology not only ensures lower tailpipe emission compared to pure petrol or pure diesel models but also offers lower fuel consumption and longer driving range, eventually resulting in financial savings for the vehicle owners.

At the same time, hybrid powertrain technology comes at a cheaper cost compared to pure electric vehicles. Besides that, using a hybrid car boosts the consumers’ confidence in electrified propulsion technology. There are different types of hybrid powertrain technology available in the market, which include micro hybrid, mild hybrid, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid. In the first two variants, the electric motor acts as an assisting component for the internal combustion engine, which generates the actual propulsion power, while in the latter two variants, the electric motor itself can generate propulsion power for the vehicle with assistance from a battery pack. Many full hybrid or plug-in hybrid cars can run about 50-kilometre distance on electric power alone.

Watch: Do Hybrid Cars Make More Sense Than EVs In India? | All Things EV | HT Auto

Hybrid cars offer a cost-effective solution against pure ICE, EV and CNG models

In the last few years, several automakers in the Indian passenger vehicle market have launched their respective hybrid cars. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Honda City and Toyota Innova Hycross are some of the key passenger vehicles in the country, which currently are sold as hybrid models. Interestingly, the hybrid powertrain technology has penetrated not only the mass-market segment but the luxury segment as well. The reason behind this is the rising consumer demand for this tech.

Multiple factors have played their bit in this growth story of hybrid cars. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, demands for personal mobility have surged drastically. At the same time, sky-high petrol and diesel prices and the significantly high cost of acquisition for electric cars have paved the way for hybrid cars in India, which satiate the requirement for lower tailpipe emission in the face of tightening emission norms and growing concern for environmental pollution. Besides that, the promise of a longer driving range and lower fuel consumption too helped the growth of hybrid cars.

Petrol and diesel prices in India have shot up by around 41 per cent since 2019. In such a situation increased availability of CNG kits in the aftermarket and OEMs introducing petrol-CNG cars have offered the consumers a viable solution, but with that, the vehicle owners have to compromise on boot storage. Electric vehicles too have come up dramatically in the last few years, but even now, an electric car costs significantly more than its ICE counterpart. Besides that, other factors like confusion about the lifecycle of EVs, lack of charging infrastructure, and range anxiety have been hindering the desired growth of electric cars.

On the other hand, hybrid technology offers a key viable solution, where consumers don’t have to worry about range anxiety or compromise on the boot space of their vehicles while getting the benefit of both ICE and EVs. The consumers have understood this and shifting their focus accordingly. Buoyed by that, carmakers in India are increasingly focusing on bringing hybrid cars into the market, fuelling the cyclic growth in the segment.

First Published Date: 06 Mar 2024, 15:13 PM IST

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Hybrid Cars

Thats Why India is in love with hybrid cars.

Automakers hope to end FY24 on a positive note, shorter waiting periods ahead

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 03 Mar 2024, 16:31 PM

  • Sales of passenger vehicles and two-wheelers posted a strong growth in February 2024.
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Sales of passenger vehicles and two-wheelers posted a strong growth in February 2024.

The inordinately long waiting periods for passenger vehicles may be ending as the carmakers continued to produce a record number of vehicles in February 2024, building up stock in their respective dealerships, claimed a report by LiveMint. The increasing retail demand has been playing a crucial role for the automakers to push for higher vehicle production.

The report further stated that the carmakers in India are keeping a close watch on market demand, as inventories, which have already reached 26 days, are likely to pile up in the dealerships with the OEMs having been able to cater to the pending orders and incremental sales depending solely on the pace of fresh demand.

Passenger vehicles to see lower waiting period

The report quoted India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki’s Senior Executive Director Shashank Srivastava revealing that the Indian passenger vehicle industry expects to finish the current financial year with an 8.1 per cent growth rate at 42 lakh units.

In February 2024, the passenger vehicle segment in India recorded wholesales of 373,177 units as opposed to 335,324 units registered in February 2023, marking an 11.3 per cent year-on-year growth, Srivastava said. However, the retail numbers are lower than the wholesale figure, estimated to be around 335,900 units registered last month as compared to 301,900 units recorded in February 2023, which also registered an 11.3 per cent growth. However, the difference between wholesale and retail numbers was about 40,000 units, which have been added to the stock, revealed the Maruti Suzuki top official.

He also said that the stock level is now at 300,000 units, which is around 25-26 days of stock in the industry. “So far since July of last year, we have seen pending bookings significantly come down and stock in the channel had come down. But not only is it pretty high again, the luxury for OEMs to push wholesale against retail is not there anymore,” Srivastava reportedly said, further adding, “We saw that rural growth cumulatively was at 11.7 per cent between April and February, higher than growth in urban sales at eight per cent.”

SUVs driving growth in PV segment

SUVs have been driving demand and sales in the Indian passenger vehicle market, just like the rest of the global market. In February 2024 as well, SUVs accounted for more than 50 per cent of all passenger vehicle sales in India. Industry experts reportedly expect the SUV segment to contribute more than half of total passenger vehicle sales in the current financial year.

The launch of a host of new models in the last few months, and improved availability on the back of the eased supply chain have helped the automakers to post a strong growth in this segment.

Two-wheelers clock strong double-digit growth

Major two-wheeler manufacturers such as Hero MotoCorp, TVS Motor Company and Bajaj Auto have clocked a strong double-digit growth in February 2024, compared to the same month a year ago. However, registrations of two-wheelers grew at a much slower pace in February this year, at 13.2 per cent, claimed the report. This resulted in inventory addition at showrooms. The report also claimed that in the premium segment, higher demand helped Royal Enfield post a wholesale growth of a mere five per cent, whereas retail registrations shrank 1.3 per cent last month, compared to February 2023.

In the electric two-wheeler segment, sales remained flat in February 2024, reflecting a stagnation in demand. The report claimed that registrations of high-speed electric two-wheelers were up by 24 per cent on a year-on-year basis in February 2024. This was due to the extra day in February because 2024 is a leap year. However, the registrations in this category were flat last month compared to January at 81,963 units.

First Published Date: 03 Mar 2024, 16:31 PM IST

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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

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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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2024 Renault Kwid vs Maruti Suzuki Alto K10: Price and specification comparison

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 10 Jan 2024, 15:57 PM

Renault India has launched the updated Kwid hatchback in the country with a revised list of features, enhancing its appeal further and raising its com

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Kwid vs Alto
Renault India has launched the updated Kwid hatchback in the country with a revised list of features, enhancing its appeal further and raising its competitiveness against the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10.

Renault India has launched the 2024 iteration of the Kwid hatchback in the country at a starting price of ₹4.69 lakh (ex-showroom) alongside its other siblings like Kiger and Triber. While the pricing of the updated Renault Kwid hatchback remains unchanged, the French auto giant has revised the feature list and introduced three new dual-tone exterior shades.

With the launch of the updated Kwid, the RXL(O) variant of the car now comes with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system making it the most affordable hatchback in India with this feature. Also, this variant of the Kwid now comes with an AMT gearbox, making it the most affordable automatic car in India. Renault has also made 14 safety features as standard for the Kwid hatchback.

Renault Kwid competes with rivals like the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10, which has been one of the bestselling small hatchbacks in India for a long time. Here is a price and specification comparison between the new Kwid and Maruti Suzuki Alto K10.

2024 Renault Kwid vs Maruti Suzuki Alto K10: Price

The 2024 Renault Kwid is priced between ₹4.69 lakh and ₹6.12 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), while the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 hatchback is available between ₹3.99 lakh and ₹5.96 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The RXL(O) AMT variant of the Renault Kwid is priced at ₹5.44 lakh (ex-showroom), which makes it the most affordable automatic car in India, while the closest competitor against it is the Maruti Suzuki Alto K120 VXI AGS, which is priced at ₹5.61 lakh (ex-showroom).

2024 Renault Kwid vs Maruti Suzuki Alto K10: Specification

The updated Renault Kwid remains the same as the previous model on the powertrain front. Under the hood, the 2024 Renault Kwid continues to draw power from a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, petrol engine that is capable of churning out 67 bhp peak power and 91 Nm of maximum torque. This engine is available with transmission choices of a five-speed manual and an AMT unit.

On the other hand, powering the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 is a 1.0-litre K10C petrol engine. This engine is available with transmission options of a five-speed manual unit and an AMT, which the automaker calls Auto Gear Shift or AGS. The Alto K10 hatchback churns out 65 bhp peak power and 89 Nm of maximum torque.

The Alto K10 is available in both petrol-only and petrol-CNG fuel options, while the Renault Kwid has no CNG option. When it comes to power and torque output, the Kwid generates slightly more power and torque than the Alto K10.

First Published Date: 10 Jan 2024, 15:57 PM IST

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Maruti Suzuki Brezza crosses one million sales milestone since launch

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By: Sameer Fayaz Contractor
| Updated on: 28 Dec 2023, 15:46 PM

Maruti Suzuki achieved the landmark figure in seven years and eight months since the first generation Vitara Brezza went on sale in March 2016.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza
The Maruti Suzuki Brezza was launched as the Vitara Brezza in March 2016 and went on to achieve the one million sales milestone in December 2023

Maruti Suzuki has recorded a new milestone with one of its most popular SUVs as the Brezza clocked over 10 lakh units in sales. The achievement comes within eight months since the subcompact SUV crossed the nine lakh sales mark. The automaker achieved the landmark figure in a total of 94 months or seven years and eight months, since the first generation Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza went on sale in March 2016.

As of November 2023, Maruti Suzuki had sold 996,608 units of the Brezza and would need an additional 3,392 units to hit the one million milestone, which the company achieved in early December. Now in its second generation, the SUV has been a top seller right from the start averaging monthly sales of nearly 14,000 units every month.

Also Read : SUV demand drives up Maruti Suzuki’s profit by 80 per cent.

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza
The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza was first unveiled at the 2016 Auto Expo

The Maruti Suzuki Brezza has also been the top-selling subcompact SUV in the country surpassing rivals like the Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV300 and the like. Notably, the Nexon is the only other SUV to have sales of more than one lakh units in FY2024 so far in the segment.

Maruti Suzuki clocked the one lakh sales milestone in March 2017 within a year of the Vitara Brezza’s launch. The subcompact SUV went on to hit the five lakh sales mark in January 2020, 46 months since its launch. The remaining five lakh units were achieved in just under 47 months, showcasing the same consistency in sales.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG
The Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG launched earlier this year helped bring a new push to overall sales

While the first generation Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza was a diesel-only offering with a 1.3-litre oil burner, the carmaker changed that when the facelift arrived in 2020 plonking the 1.5-litre petrol engine. The automaker went on to add a CNG option in March this year, which pushed sales further amidst rising fuel prices. This helped the SUV claim the top spot in the segment, which it lost out to the Nexon in FY2022 and FY2023.

Maruti Suzuki also showcased the idea of a Brezza CNG automatic at the 2023 Auto Expo but the model has not yet been greenlit for production. The company’s UV offerings have been a massive success and helped Maruti to take the throne of the number one SUV maker in the country from Mahindra this year. The brand’s other SUVs include the Fronx, Jimny, and Grand Vitara

First Published Date: 28 Dec 2023, 15:46 PM IST

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Maruti eVX to Tata Harrier EV: Electric cars to launch in India next year

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India will get a number of new electric cars in the next 12 months as the EV segment continues to grow at a rapid rate. Several carmakers have already confirmed launch of their new electric vehicles in 2024. Some of these models will help top carmakers enter the EV fray in the country which currently has less than seven per cent contribution to overall vehicle sales in India. Key names among the expected electric cars to hit Indian shores include the likes of Maruti Suzuki’s first EV – the eVX, Tata Harrier EV among others. Here is a quick look at list of brand new electric cars to launch in India next year.

Maruti eVX Tata Harrier EV
Maruti Suzuki is expected to launch its first electric vehicle in India with the introduction of the eVX in 2024. Tata Motors is also expected to launch at least three new EVs, including the electric avatar of its flagship Harrier SUV next year.

Maruti Suzuki eVX

2024 will be a landmark year for Maruti Suzuki, the largest carmaker in India, as it plans to put its first ever electric car eVX to production. The carmaker has confirmed that the eVX electric SUV, first showcased at the Auto Expo held in January this year, will be manufactured from Suzuki Motor’s Gujarat facility at Hansalpur starting next year. It is expected to be launched some time in 2024. The eVX electric SUV will come with a range of around 550 kms in a single charge. It will be equipped with a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. When launched, it will take on the likes of MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona among others.

Tata Harrier EV

Tata Motors has confirmed that its flagship Harrier SUV, which recently received a major facelift, will get its electric version next year. The Harrier EV made its debut at the Auto Expo earlier this year. Built on the Gen 2 EV architecture, the Harrier EV will come with V2L and V2V charging facilities. The Harrier EV has been spotted testing on roads ahead of its launch within the next few months. However, very little is known about what this electric SUV will offer in terms of range, performance and features.

Tata Punch EV

The second electric vehicle from Tata stable expected to make India debut next year is the Punch. The smallest SUV from the carmaker already has the ICE and CNG version on sale. When launched, it will become the fourth car in Tata’s lineup to offer ICE, CNG and EV version of the same model. The Punch EV is expected to come with the same Ziptron technology that is doing duty in other Tata EVs like Nexon. The size of the battery could be the ones used for Tigor EV or the Nexon EV. Tata Punch EV could offer range of more than 300 kms in a single charge in the long-range version.

Tata Curvv EV

The third electric car from Tata Motors expected to be launched in 2024 is the Curvv EV. Tata is likely to launch the EV version of the SUV after its ICE version makes its debut. The Curvv EV will be based on Tata Motor’s X1 platform which will be heavily reworked to become EV ready. According to reports, the expected range of the Curvv electric SUV will be between 400 kms and 500 kms in a single charge. It is not clear if Tata Motors will use the same battery the Nexon EV facelift uses.

Kia EV9

The Korean auto giant is expected to expand its EV lineup in India with the introduction of its three-row electric SUV EV9. Based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV9 stands more than five metres in length. It promises to offer range of up to 541 kms in a single charge. It is expected to be offered in two variants. Globally, the EV9 is powered by a 150 kW electric motor that can help it sprint 0-100 kmph in 9.4 seconds. The RWD version of the EV will come with a more powerful 160 kW electric motor. The EV has an 800-volt electrical architecture that enables the EV to charge at ultra-fast speed. Kia claims the EV9 can run 239 kms with just 15 minutes of charging.

Mahindra XUV.e8

Mahindra and Mahindra will also expand its EV lineup for India with the launch of an electric SUV based on the XUV700. This will be Mahindra’s second electric offering after the XUV400. Mahindra had showcased five upcoming electric SUVs during an event held in United Kingdom in August last year. To be launched under the Born Electric brand, the XUV.e8 is expected to come with dual electric motor as well as all-wheel drive technology. Mahindra is likely to offer at least 60 kWh battery pack with the XUV.e8 EV besides adding features like level 2 ADAS, 5G connectivity among others.

First Published Date: 18 Dec 2023, 14:20 PM IST

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Renault extends support to customers affected by Cyclone Michaung

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Renault India has announced support for its customers in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh who have been affected by Cyclone Michaung. The French automaker announced free roadside assistance for the affected customers, while it also launched a 24×7 helpline among other benefits. The automaker also claimed that it had initiated SMS alerts and company app notifications prior cyclone to inform its customers about vehicle safeguarding measures.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 09 Dec 2023, 10:10 AM

Renault Kiger Triber Kwid Urban Night
Renault extends support to customers affected by Cyclone Michaung by launching free RSA and a 24×7 helpline.

Over the last two days, several automakers including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Mahindra, Toyota, Jeep, and Audi have announced supportive measures for their respective customers who have been affected by the cyclone. Now, Renault has joined the list as it has announced a comprehensive support initiative for its customers.

Also Read : Citroen, Jeep join other carmakers, extend assistance to customers affected by Cyclone Michaung floods

Watch: Renault Kiger 2021: First drive review

The car manufacturer in an official release has said that it is offering roadside assistance to help customers transport their vehicles to the nearest dealerships free of cost. The company also claimed that it would reimburse the towing costs incurred by customers who independently arranged for transporting their vehicles. Renault claims to have deployed an additional fleet of 15 towing trucks throughout Tamil Nadu to prioritise recovery of flood-affected vehicles. Also, it has set up a 24×7 helpline ensuring the customers prompt and efficient assistance.

Speaking about the measures taken, Sudhir Malhotra, Vice President of Sales Marketing at Renault India Private Limited (RIPL), said the automaker has pledged to provide robust support to its customers affected by the Chennai floods. “During these hard times, Renault India, in solidarity with other OEMs, provides robust support to our customers affected by the Chennai floods. Our all-encompassing initiatives, spanning proactive communication and hands-on assistance, underscore our unwavering commitment to offering 24/7 aid to our customers in Tamil Nadu. Renault India will continue to remain vigilant, continuously monitoring the situation and adjusting our efforts to address the changing needs of the community and our customers. We stand united in these challenging times,” he added.

First Published Date: 09 Dec 2023, 10:10 AM IST

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Citroen, Jeep extend assistance to customers affected by Cyclone Michaung floods

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French auto giant Citroen and US-based carmaker Jeep have joined other car manufacturers in India to offer help to customers whose vehicles are affected by the floods caused by Cyclone Michaung in states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The two carmakers, part of the Stellantis Group, have rolled out multiple initiatives which include roadside assistance to special offers to buy a new model in case someone’s car has been totally damaged.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 08 Dec 2023, 15:43 PM

Citroen C3 Aircross Jeep Compass
Citroen and Jeep, part of the Stellantis Group, have extended assistance to its customers whose vehicles are affected by the floods caused by Cyclone Michaung.

Citroen and Jeep issued a statement today, December 8, stating that it will assist victims of the cyclone that left several cars damaged or submerged over the past one week. The statement reads, “In the wake of the floods caused by Michaung Cyclone in Chennai, Jeep and Citroen have announced vehicle service initiatives to provide round-the-clock comprehensive support to owners of flood-affected vehicles.” The duo joins others like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor, Tata Motors and others to offer assistance to their customers in the wake of floods in the two states.

Among the initiatives undertaken by Citroen and Jeep include 24X7 roadside assistance for their customers to tackle any emergency situation. The carmakers will also help customers wishing to tow away their vehicles to safety. The towing support will carry these vehicles to their nearest dealerships. Customers of Citroen and Jeep can also avail a 40-point complimentary vehicle check-up through advanced appointments at respective dealerships.

Citroen and Jeep are also offering fast-track processing of vehicle insurance. The customers are required to carry essential documents like Driving License, Registration Certificate and vehicle-related policy documents to the dealerships to avail this assistance. The duo will also offer prioritised repairs through insurance partners and faster claim processing. The two carmakers also promise to make genuine spare parts available in time for faster repair process.

Citroen and Jeep are also offering an opportunity to its customers who wish to buy a new car. The carmakers have special offers on fresh purchases for customers whose vehicles have been damaged beyond repair in the floods caused by the cyclone.

Citroen offers cars like C5 Aircross, C3 Aircross, C3 and eC3 as part of its India lineup. Jeep India sells SUVs like Compass, Meridian, Wrangler and Grand Cherokee.

First Published Date: 08 Dec 2023, 15:43 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 Jimny becomes more affordable with new Thunder Edition

by with No Comment Electric vehicles cars

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The Thunder Edition comes with several accessories as standard. It gets a front skid plate, side door cladding, door visor, door sill guard, grip cover in rustic tan, floor mat and graphics on the exterior. There is also a garnish on the front bumper, ORVM, side fender and hood.

Maruti Suzuki has not made any other changes to the Jimny. It continues to come with a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, K-series naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 103 bhp of max power at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque output of 134 Nm at 4,000 rpm. It comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed torque converter automatic transmission. The manual gearbox delivers a claimed fuel economy of 16.94 kmpl whereas the automatic transmission delivers 16.39 kmpl. The SUV comes with four-wheel drive as standard and the automatic transmission is available on both variants.

Also Read : Mahindra Thar five-door to break cover soon: Key expectations

In terms of safety equipment, the Jimny is equipped with 6 airbags, brake limited slip differential, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Program, Hill Hold Control, Hill Descent Control, Rear View Camera, Brake Assist Function and Engine Immobilizer.

The top-end Alpha variant is equipped with a push start/stop button, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic climate control and a larger touchscreen infotainment system. Apart from this, it also comes with automatic LED headlamps, headlamp washers, fog lamps, dark green glass window, body-coloured door handles, alloy wheels and electrically foldable ORVMs.

Watch: Maruti Suzuki Jimny SUV: First Drive Review

In terms of dimensions, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny measures 3,985 mm in length, is 1,645 mm wide and stands 1,720 mm tall. It has a wheelbase of 2,590 mm. The main highlight of this version of the vehicle is that it offers more cabin space than its three-door twin because of the longer wheelbase.

First Published Date: 01 Dec 2023, 15:44 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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50% of Maruti Suzuki’s CNG sales come from Ertiga, more demand for larger cars: Shashank Srivastava

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Maruti Suzuki India is the market leader in the passenger vehicle segment and the company holds a market share of 75 per cent in the sale of CNG vehicles. Elaborating on the same, Shashank Srivastava, Sr Executive Officer- Sales & Marketing, Maruti Suzuki, revealed that the Ertiga CNG contributes over 50 per cent to overall CNG sales, while larger models like the Brezza, XL6 and Grand Vitara have a larger contribution to overall volumes. The sales reflect the growing demand for larger vehicles across the industry as entry hatchbacks lose market share.

By: Sameer Fayaz Contractor
| Updated on: 10 Nov 2023, 15:44 PM

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG
The Ertiga CNG contributes about 50% to Maruti Suzuki’s overall CNG volumes. The expects about 30-35% of sales to come from CNG cars by 2030

Maruti Suzuki is one of the pioneers in bringing CNG vehicles to the market and sold 328,800 cars in FY2023. The company has sold about 270,000 vehicles so far in this fiscal and is aiming to close the year with over 500,000 CNG vehicles sold. Maruti has 15 CNG models on sale including the Super Carry LCV, but its premium CNG portfolio only expanded in the last year with the arrival of new models.

Also Read : How Maruti Suzuki jumped to the top of the SUV sales chart

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara CNG is available with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, bringing lower running costs to the premium SUV

Speaking to the media, Shashank Srivastava said, “Smaller cars actually have a lower penetration of CNG. It is the larger cars which have the more penetration, In fact, the Alto penetration is just around 7 per cent compared with the Ertiga, which is more than 50 per cent. The Brezza alone, if you see, is about 24 per cent and the Grand Vitara is about 14 per cent. So larger vehicles actually are seeing much higher penetration than the smaller costs now.”

Furthermore, Srivastava explained that the acquisition cost difference between an entry-level CNG car and its petrol counterpart is about ₹90,000-95,000. So as a percentage of the initial price, these smaller cars actually have a lower penetration of CNG. Do note that Maruti also supplies its CNG cars to Toyota with a chunk of volumes coming from badge-engineered models like the Rumion (Ertiga) and Glanza (CNG), while the upcoming Fronx-based Toyota model is also expected to get a CNG variant.

The rising fuel prices in the last few years have led to the reemergence of CNG cars in India, prompting other carmakers including Hyundai and Tata Motors to expand their respective portfolio. The low running cost, coupled with better safety standards and wider availability of the filling stations have helped attract new demand.

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10
The demand for smaller cars has been on a decline and that’s reflected in the CNG sales as well

Srivastava revealed that CNG filling stations went up from 1,233 in 2016-17 to 5,710 in 2023-24 in a span of five years. This number is only expected to grow further to 17,000 in the coming five years. With a strong push from the central government in recent years in a bid to minimise crude oil imports, CNG is presently available in about 333 cities across 26 states, as opposed to just 13 states in 2016-17.

Also Read : New Maruti Suzuki Swift will be bigger than the outgoing model

By 2030, Maruti Suzuki expects about 15 per cent of its total sales to come from electric vehicles, followed by 25 per cent from hybrids, while the remaining 60 per cent will be contributed by flex fuel, CNG and bio-gas powertrain vehicles.

Srivastava says the company anticipates CNG vehicles to contribute roughly around 30-35 per cent to total volumes by the end of the decade. The number currently stands at about 28 per cent. It’ll be safe to say that CNG vehicles will continue to play an active role in Maruti Suzuki’s portfolio in the coming years. However, it needs to be seen if smaller hatchbacks will continue with CNG options in future iterations.

First Published Date: 10 Nov 2023, 15:44 PM IST

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Suzuki to focus on vehicles with biogas fuel for India, showcases WagonR CBG

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Japanese auto giant Suzuki has showcased a new WagonR at the Japan Auto Show which is powered by compressed biogas, or CBG. First showcased at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in May this year, the WagonR CBG highlights the Japanese carmaker’s intention of using alternative energy, other than electricity, to power vehicles while attaining carbon neutrality by ditching petrol or diesel. Toshihiro Suzuki, CEO of Suzuki Motor Corporation, highlighted the usefulness of cow manures to produce biogas as alternative fuel. He said India could play a key role in making Compressed Biogas mainstream.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 27 Oct 2023, 16:20 PM

Suzuki WagonR CBG
Suzuki WagonR powered by compressed biogas, or CBG, for India is displayed at the Japan Auto Show on October 26, in Tokyo. (AP)

Compressed Biogas (CBG) is made from decomposed organic waste like agricultural items, cow manure and even. The decomposed waste is refined through a process to reduce carbon dioxide and increase the methane content in the fuel. The process is somewhat similar to the way Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is made. The difference is that for CNG, the source of the fuel is natural gas.

During his speech at the Japan Auto Show this week, Toshihiro Suzuki said massive amount of cow manure is potentially a gold mine to generate Compressed Biogas. He said, “It is said that there are about 300 million cows in India. Do you all know? One day’s worth of cow dung from 10 cows is enough fuel to power one car for one day. From this basic point of view, we have developed the WagonR that runs on purified biogas.”

Suzuki also said that to achieve true carbon neutrality, the auto industry should look beyond electric vehicles and venture into alternative fuel like CNG and CBG. Suzuki’s plans to use CBG as alternative fuel for its vehicles is not new. The carmaker had earlier signed a deal with Banas Dairy and the National Dairy Development Board to setup a biogas production plant in Gujarat. In the next three years, Suzuki aims to set up around four biogas facilities at an investment of up to ₹230 crore.

The CBG version of the WagonR hatchback is unlikely to hit Indian shores anytime soon. Maruti Suzuki sells the CNG version of the hatchback besides the regular petrol version. There are also talks of an electric avatar of the boxy WagonR in near future.

First Published Date: 27 Oct 2023, 16:20 PM IST

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