Maruti Suzuki is driving into the high-value space and should be able to park there permanently. All three launches last year catered for the segment comprising premium hatchbacks, cross-overs and compact utility vehicles, with models priced in the range of Rs 6 lakh to Rs 12 lakh. For the time being at least, minis and hatchbacks seem to be taking a back seat. That’s a clear shift for the country’s biggest car maker which has typically focused on smaller cars priced between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh.
According to senior management executives, 70,000 cars were sold through the premium Nexa dealerships last year; that’s about 6% of the total 1.31 million units and about 10% in value terms. That might not seem significant right now but analysts reckon the share of higher-priced models is expected to increase to as much as 25% as soon as this year.
The rise is predicated on the launch of the Ignis — a compact SUV — and Baleno RS — a premium hatchback-— both due to arrive in the festival season. In the meanwhile, Maruti’s first compact SUV — Vitara Brezza — received a thumbs up from buyers as bookings hit 30,000 at the launch last month.
