Car marker leader Maruti Suzuki India is looking at nearly doubling the number of models to 25, including entry into SUV and LCV segments, as it aims a target to sell 3 million cars annually.
Amid a slowdown in car sales, Maruti Suzuki India on Saturday said it will foray into the light commercial vehicles segment, 30 years after an initial plan was shelved when the company started operations.
Passenger vehicle majors like Hyundai, Tata Motors, M&M, Toyota Kirloskar and Honda on Wednesday reported growth in domestic sales in August riding on festive sentiments, although market leader Maruti Suzuki posted a decline amid a semiconductor shortage affecting the industry. The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) reported domestic sales at 110,080 units, as compared to 116,704 units in the same month last year, down 6 per cent. "Sales volume of the company in August 2021 was affected due to electronic components shortage.
Fada estimates that global supply chain headwinds like scarce availability of rare earth elements for electric vehicle components and geopolitical tensions may affect urban consumer sentiment in June as well.
Driven by strong demand, the overall passenger vehicle dispatches crossed 3.35 lakh units in February as automakers, including Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra, reported robust sales during the month. The dispatches of more than 3.35 lakh units last month marked an 11 per cent over February 2022. It was also the highest ever overall wholesales in the month of February. The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India on Wednesday said its domestic wholesales rose 11 per cent to 155,114 units in February as compared with 140,035 units in the same month last year.
Paring its early gains, benchmark BSE Sensex fell by 304 points on Wednesday as investors booked profit after recent gains amid concerns over inflation and supply constraints. Despite a firm start, the 30-share BSE barometer declined by 304.48 points or 0.53 per cent to settle at 57,684.82. During the day, it tanked 420.71 points or 0.72 per cent to 57,568.59.
The new year will see a line of hatchbacks (including compact SUVs) hit the Indian roads. Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com offers a peek.
Swift is the highest selling car from the Maruti stable sicne its launch in 2005.
Leading manufacturers, including Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and General Motors, are planning to raise prices of each of their models starting from the last week of this month or early next month.
Maruti's Alto retained the top position in June with 14,856 units, as against 15,750 units in June last year.
The company cut production of its mini cars comprising Alto, and S-Presso by 98.32 per cent at 401 units as against 23,874 units in the year-ago month.
Maruti Suzuki India has rejigged its management structure appointing five Indians in crucial decision-making positions.
The company adopted the scheme from parent Suzuki, where employees are rewarded for making suggestions to improve productivity and cut wastage.
MSIL would also focus more on bringing out models with auto gear shift technology.
The recall will cover cars manufactured between 2008 to 2012 that use safety airbags made by its supplier Takata
Toyota is working on developing six subcompact cars as part of its global strategy to increase volumes in emerging markets over the next four years.
Toyota is working on developing six subcompact cars as part of its global strategy to increase volumes in emerging markets over the next four years.
Suzuki will produce EVs for the Indian market and will supply some of them to Toyota, which will provide technical support.
Maruti's compact segment comprising New WagonR, Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno, Dzire, and utility vehicles, including Gypsy, Ertiga, XL6, S-Cross and Vitara Brezza saw robust sales, while the mini segment comprising Alto, S-Presso and Old WagonR saw negative growth.
We will not be in the ultra-low-cost car segment. Our focus will be on the A1 and A2 segments, which are growth areas in which many of the new players like Nissan, Volkswagen or Toyota are planning to enter. Our entry-level car will remain the Maruti 800.
Tata Motors surpassed Maruti Suzuki (India) (MSIL) to become the most-valuable automobile company, in terms of market capitalisation (mcap), after a gap of seven years. With this, the company's stock hit a new high on the BSE on Tuesday (January 30). The combined mcap of Tata Motors (Rs 285.51 crore) and Tata Motors DVR (Rs 29,119 crore) stood at Rs 3.146 trillion.
MSI has been producing about 5,000 units per day from its Gurgaon and Manesar plants.
First off the block will be a new multi-purpose vehicle which is being co-developed with Toyota - Suzuki's alliance partner. The model will also wear a Toyota badge.
The muted expectation of dealers come at a time when vehicle manufacturers such as Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor, Mahindra & Mahindra and others reported a double-digit fall in wholesale dispatches to dealerships in July and August.
Zomato on Monday became the first new-age company to join the prestigious 30-share benchmark Sensex, replacing JSW Steel. This milestone marks a significant achievement not only for Zomato but also for the Indian startup ecosystem, which is increasingly making its presence felt in the $5.2 trillion listed ecosystem.
Maruti has confirmed to sell Ignis from NEXA outlets.
M&M also saw its domestic passenger vehicle sales grow by 1 per cent, while Toyota Kirloskar Motor witnessed a decline in its PV sales.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday launched the country's first crash testing programme Bharat NCAP aimed at improving road safety standards of motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) is India's own crash testing programme and is cheaper than tests conducted abroad, Gadkari said, adding that the star ratings will help buyers understand the quality of the product and make an informed purchase decision. Bharat NCAP will be implemented from October 1, 2023.
First images of the model that can replace Swift.
Suzuki and Toyota are in talks for electric mobility and MSI would continue to access technology from its parent.
Car owners in India had fewer problems with their new vehicles, with the JD Power Asia Pacific Satisfaction Index Study revealing that eight of the 11 manufacturers had improved their performance.
The list includes compact SUV, mini SUV, premium hatchback and premium MPV.
The 17 rare earth elements that are at the centre of the current crisis are critical components of everyday products -- from cars to jet engines to electronics like smartphones and flat-screen TVs.
The move is prompted by the disruption in the car usage pattern caused by the app-based ride-hailing companies such Ola and Uber
Sales of the company's oldest and once bread-and-butter model M800 declined by 5.53 per cent at 3,124 units from same period last year, while A2 segment (comprising Alto, Wagon R, Estilo, Swift, A-Star and Ritz) witnessed a growth of 18.43 per cent at 51,437 units compared to same period last year.
India's economy will see the fastest dollar nominal growth in the world in 2015, Credit Suisse says.
The surge in diesel vehicle demand has prompted the companies to explore options such as developing new engines as well as buying these from other companies.
As part of the new Central Motor Vehicle Rules, the government is framing a mandatory recall policy entailing penalties.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances