Success prompts Maruti to plan a Swift sedan

Posted: Saturday, Jul 16, 2005 at 0000 hrs IST
Updated: Saturday, Jul 16, 2005 at 0000 hrs IST

Font Size

Feedback

Discuss

Discount UK Shopping

New Delhi, July 15: Maruti Udyog Ltd is planning to encash on the Swift mania (bookings have crossed 28,000 so far) by launching a three-box version of the vehicle next year, according to sources. The sedan version will be in the Esteem category and is likely to replace the old warhorse over three years.

The new car would roll out at about the same time when the company starts producing 1.3-litre diesel engines at its new Manesar plant that is under construction now.

The diesel versions of the Swift hatchback and sedan would take on the Tata Indica and Indigo, which together account for about 80% of diesel passenger cars sold in the country.

The diesel segment has a 20% share in the country’s passenger car market. Since Maruti has no diesel offering right now, whatever marketshare its diesel vehicles capture, will be over and above the 50.8% share it has of the Indian passengercar market.

Maruti’s more immediate attack will be in the A2 segment, where it plans to launch WagonR+ — a car that is 10 cm wider and 5 mm longer than the model currently sold in India. WagonR+ sells in Europe and Japan in 1.0 and 1.3 litre variants. This version is not only larger in dimensions but is also heavier than the Wagon-R. This is indicative of the fact that when it is launched in India, it could carry a diesel engine as well.

Though Maruti spokespersons were unavailable for comment, vendors contacted by FE confirmed the launch of these new products.

COLLISION COURSE

• Diesel versions of the Swift will challenge Tata hegemony
• Indigo and...

Post Comments

Comments: (Limit 3,000 characters)

Name		Message
Email ID
Subject

TERMS OF USE:
The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).

I agree to the terms of use.