<ul><li>The programme allows a customer to use a brand-new car without actually owning it and by paying an all-inclusive monthly fee that covers maintenance.</li><li>The company has partnered with ORIX Auto Infrastructure Services India, a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation, Japan to introduce this service in four more cities — Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Gandhinagar.</li><li>The monthly subscription charge is as low as ₹14,665, including taxes for Swift LXi in Ahmedabad. However, prices may vary depending on the car and the city. </li></ul>After launching its ‘subscription option’ in major cities like Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Pune, Maruti Suzuki is now expanding this service in four other cities — Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Gandhinagar. Mumbai includes Navi Mumbai and Thane area as well. Maruti had introduced this car leasing programme in late September in order to woo customers after the COVID-19 pandemic battered auto sales in India for the last three quarters. “The <keyword id="9503335" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maruti-Suzuki-Subscribe">Maruti Suzuki Subscribe</keyword> program has received encouraging response from the customers. We have received over 6,600 enquiries in the first few months of pilot launch,” Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director Maruti Suzuki India. What is Maruti Suzuki subscribe service? The programme allows a customer to use a brand-new car without actually owning it and by paying an all-inclusive monthly fee that covers maintenance, insurance, and roadside assistance for the complete tenure. "This subscription is all-inclusive and covers expenses like maintenance, zero depreciation insurance and 24x7 roadside assistance. After the completion of subscription tenure, the customer can also opt to upgrade the vehicle, extend or buy the car at market price," Maruti said. The company has partnered with ORIX Auto Infrastructure Services India, a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation, Japan, to introduce the service for individual customers in these four cities. These are the options that you can choose from: <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Cars </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Swift </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Swift Dzire </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Vitara Brezza </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Ertiga </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Maruti Suzuki Arena </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Baleno </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Ciaz </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Maruti Suzuki XL6 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Maruti Suzuki NEXA </td></tr></tbody></table> Monthly rentals The customers can select the duration ranging from 12 to 48 months and pay a monthly subscription charge as low as starting ₹14,665, including taxes for Swift LXi in Ahmedabad for a tenure of 48 months. The price varies based on the car model and the city, the company added. Maruti’s subscribe service <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">City </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Mumbai </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Chennai </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Ahmedabad </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Gandhinagar </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Price for Swift Lxi </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹15,368 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹15,196 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹14,665 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9907650000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹14,691 </td></tr></tbody></table> SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/biden-will-pick-former-federal-reserve-chair-janet-yellen-to-head-the-treasury-department/articleshow/79378968.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Biden will pick former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen to head the Treasury Department</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/boris-johnson-to-relax-the-national-coronavirus-lockdown-and-allow-households-to-celebrate-together-over-christmas/articleshow/79368293.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Boris Johnson relaxes the national coronavirus lockdown and says families can meet to celebrate Christmas</a>

Maruti Suzuki expands its ‘subscribe’ service to Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar

Greater Noida, Feb 5 () Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Wednesday said Tata Motors will launch at least four more products in the next 18-24 months with focus on sustainability and electric vehicles. The company is focusing on - CESS: connected, electric, shared and safe - as the future of mobility. "Tata Motors is pushing the envelope with other group companies on safety... We have launched two models since we unveiled Tigor in 2017, and Nexa last week, at least four more products will be coming in the next 18-24 months," Chandrasekaran said. He added that Tata Motors is working with seven other group companies, and expects to invest continuously to expand its endeavours to drive electric vehicles and sustainable mobility in India. Tata Motors on Wednesday announced four global unveils, a pre-production preview and a commercial launch at the Auto Expo here. It launched the Harrier which will be priced Rs 13.69 lakh onwards for manual and Rs 16.25 lakh for automatic variant. It also showcases the pre-production version of its Gravitas SUV that is scheduled to be launched in the first half of FY2021. The company will allow test drive of its Nexon EV, besides showcasing the new Winger and Prima. Tata Motors also unveiled the HBX Show car based on ALFA ARC architecture, and the Sierra EV concept as well as the Hexa Safari edition. The company also plans to roll out an electric low-floor bus and an electric truck. Tata Motors is showcasing a lineup of 26 new products, including 14 commercial and 12 passenger vehicles. SR ANSANS

Tata Motors to launch four more products in 18-24 months: Chandrasekaran

(Eds: Adding details) New Delhi, May 6 () The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Wednesday said it has re-opened 600 dealerships which were closed due to coronavirus-led lockdown, and has even started deliveries of the vehicles. The auto major said it has put in place a comprehensive standard operating procedure (SoP) across its sales outlets and reinforced digital infrastructure for vehicle purchase amid COVID-19 pandemic. "Over the last few days we have been able to make 600-odd dealerships operational across the country," MSI Executive Director, Marketing and Sales Shashank Srivastava told . He said that dealers have applied for permissions to open up in states where such clearances are mandatory. The company, which has around 3,080 dealerships across 1,960 cities and towns in the country, has managed to open 474 Arena outlets, 80 Nexa dealerships and 45 commercial vehicle sales outlets. The company has also started deliveries of cars with 55 units having already been dispatched over the last few days, Srivastava said. When asked about the timeframe of commencing operations across the company's entire sales network, he said, "It will depend on how soon we get approvals from respective state governments." The company has enough stock with dealers to take care of the deliveries at the moment, he added. Operations at the firm's manufacturing plants remains suspended as of now. Further, MSI Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said, "All our dealerships have put in place steps to ensure complete safety, hygiene and sanitisation of all touchpoints". The steps are aimed at removing hesitancy on the part of buyers to visit the showrooms to take delivery of their vehicles. The COVID-19 SoP designed by the company encapsulates all the facets of customer interactions. From the time a customer walks into the showroom till the final delivery of the vehicle, all processes have been scientifically studied, Srivastava said. Besides, the company has put in place a robust digital process to help customers buy vehicles without having the need to visit the showrooms, he added. The auto major said it now offers the door-step delivery of cars. Besides, the dealerships will carry out complete sterilisation of the test-drive vehicles. MSS ANSANS

Maruti reopens 600 dealerships, introduces new norms across sales network amid COVID-19 pandemic

Maruti is in an image revamp mode. India’s largest car maker in terms of volumes have been a trusted name when it came to sub 5 lakh cars in Indian roads. People willing to buy premium cars were earlier shying away from Maruti and were more invited by Honda, Hyundai and Toyota, thanks to their premium offering. 
 
But things are changing for better for this Indian automaker. 
 
The elites with shining wallet willing to pay for a premium car from Maruti would no more need to wait for their turns at showrooms jostling with Alto buyers as Maruti Suzuki is launching high end showrooms to market cars with a price tag above Rs 8 lakh. 
 
The NEXA-branded showrooms, which will start operating from Phoenix Mills in Mumbai, Brigade Road of Bengaluru and Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills would not sell Alto , WagonR and would only concentrate on premium cars. 
 
In a news report by The Economic Times, the upcoming premium crossover, S Cross, will be the first model to be sold through the NEXA outlets - the vehicle's launch is expected within a month. The company has already formed a new organizational structure in place led by Partho Banerjee and his team. The company will have over 100 new outlets under NEXA brand by the end of this fiscal year, a feat which has taken more than 3-4 years for its MNC rivals. 
 
The vehicles sold through NEXA outlets will carry a Suzuki logo, but won’t carry a Maruti Suzuki nameplate. 
 
It hired more than 700 sales staff with experience in the hospitality and aviation sectors - people who are trained in the nuances of dealing with wealthy customers. They have their soft skills honed further by global experts like Dale Carnegie. The designing for the showrooms is done by Hakuhodo, the Japanese agency that has worked on Nissan's Infiniti showrooms in the US, the ET report confirms. 
 
In May, ET had reported about Maruti's plans to have a separate NEXA channel to sell premium vehicles. 
 
R S Kalsi, executive director, sales and marketing at Maruti Suzuki told ET, with an eye on achieving 2 million sales by end of 2020, the company is embarking on a new phase with NEXA. Kalsi says, in the first phase (1983 to 1993) of Maruti's presence, the company offered new products to the starved Indian buyers, between 1993 to 2003, focus moved towards offering complete solution of finance, insurance, accessories, buy back along with the car, with NEXA Maruti wants to take the buying experience to the whole new level 
 
"The new channel is aimed at offering a very personalised experience of today's evolved buyers and we think S Cross is an ideal product to offer NEXA experience," added Kalsi. 
 
At launch, Maruti will have 30 NEXA outlets ready, thus covering over 65 per cent of premium end of the market. 
 
Maruti intends to offer pick and drop facility from the customer's doorstep for a NEXA visit, something common in the luxury-car market. While the company is beginning with the S Cross, it may eventually add the Ciaz sedan and premium hatchback YRA to the sales channel. 
 
Pradeep Saxena, ED at market research firm TNS Automotive told the financial daily, a separate channel will help Maruti Suzuki as the prospective buyers will be different and they will require a different kind of experience. He thinks the concept can work, people expect more attention and they will get more attention. 
"We all know Maruti because of its distribution strength, through premium channel, you are forcing people to come to a specific shop. So there could be trade off between offering better treatment and in-convenience of traveling longer. So Maruti Suzuki will have to deal with it," said Saxena, while talking to the financial daily. 
 
(Image : Reuters)

Maruti Suzuki adds snob value to its India Biz

The undisputed champion in small-car market, <keyword id="6365618" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maruti-Suzuki-India">Maruti Suzuki India</keyword>, is leaving no stone unturned to pierce mid-size and premium vehicles segment. For this, it is putting a new independent management structure and dealership in place to sell bigger cars, price between Rs 9 lakh and 10 lakh or above. 
 The mid-size segment is currently dominated by Japanese rivals <keyword id="20630" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Honda">Honda</keyword> Motor and <keyword id="6374528" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Toyota">Toyota</keyword> Motor and Maruti, which makes one in every two cars sold in India, is making more concerted efforts to enter the segment. 
 
Even though the company made many attempts in the past, it could not achieve much success. Maruti’s newest offering in the mid-size range, Ciaz, saw decent demand but it had to discontinue selling the Kizashi, a premium sedan it brought to India a few years ago, as it found very few buyers. 
 
As per reports by the Economic Times, merely 1-3% of Maruti's vehicle sales currently come from vehicles priced above Rs 10 lakh. 
Now, a fresh team, internally named NEXA, will aim at offering a different experience to customers. 
 
Partho Banerjee, Maruti's new Vice President for sales and dealer network, will head NEXA who will be supported by two zonal heads and eight regional heads. 
 
"Every year, our company reflects on the roadmap it intends to take. This new structure was decided last week by the company," a Maruti executive told ET. 
 
He added that just like Toyota has Lexus and Nissan has Infiniti as their luxury brands, Maruti Suzuki would have NEXA as its premium brand for vehicles priced above Rs 10 lakh. 
 
However, a Maruti spokesman declined to comment on "an internal company matter" but as per people once the new channel comes in, existing dealerships will not be able to sell cars which are priced above Rs 10 lakh. 
 
However, the present dealers have been given an option to open new NEXA outlets and Maruti is mulling to have at least 100 such outlets in the first 12-18 months, before expanding into the interiors of the country. Maruti presently has around 1,500 outlets. 
 
Meanwhile, the new outlets are likely to sell the upcoming crossover, globally called the S Cross, as well as 7-seater multipurpose and sport-utility vehicles Maruti plans to launch post-2018, people in the know told the financial daily. 
 
It is likely that Maruti may bring back Kizashi. 
 
"The company is likely to test the waters with the S Cross ... there are other models in the pipeline, which could be sold through these outlets, but they will depend on how the premium outlet model evolves," said one of people in the know. 
 
Gaurav Vangaal, senior analyst at IHS Automotive, said the move pointed at Maruti and Japanese parent Suzuki Motor’s aspiration to move towards the premium segment. 
 
"This is a bold move on part of Maruti Suzuki to transition to a higher level. The initial response to the Ciaz shows that there are takers for Maruti Suzuki in Rs 10 lakh range ...Having said that, it will be a challenging task for Maruti Suzuki to sustain this imagery over Rs 10 lakh,” he told ET. 
 
Another person who closely tracks the company said Maruti and its dealers may invest in personnel and training and the dealerships may have to hire executives from the hospitality or aviation industry for the NEXA outlets, to give different experience to customers. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

Maruti has set up ‘crack teams’ to drive out rivals Honda and Toyota from the Indian mid-size car segment

Guess what? You launch an amazingly new car after much hype and a month later you give a hefty discount on it. Well, does it convey a good message to the customers and car aspirants? If Maruti Suzuki has its way then probably that’s their latest strategy. 
S-Cross crossover launched in the first week of August is being offered by Nexa dealership at a discount up to Rs 1 lakh. 
 
While the company has sold 4,500 units in the first month, competition from Hyundai's new launch Creta SUV is believed to be intense in the market which is also passing through slowdown blues. 
Sales in September are around 3,500 units. Nexa dealerships at Noida and Delhi said that the total benefits on the 1600cc variant are worth Rs 1 lakh. "This includes a loyalty benefit of Rs 30,000 for those who have a Maruti car in their family .The remaining Rs 70,000 will be given for all those who are financing the car," one of the salesmen said. 
 
The 1,300cc variant comes with a loyalty discount of Rs 20,000. The 1,300cc version of the S-Cross is priced between Rs 8.34 lakh and Rs 10.75 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), while the 1,600cc costs between Rs 11.99 lakh and Rs 13.74 lakh.

​Now buy a Maruti S-Cross at Rs 1 lakh less!

Maruti Suzuki is going to turn India into its global manufacturing hub for its upcoming premium compact car ‘Baleno’, which will debut in India on October 26. 
 
Suzuki, which has 56% stake in Maruti, will start exporting its upcoming ‘Baleno’ to over 100 countries, including Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, etc. 
 
This is Maruti Suzuki's first attempt in the premium compact segment and will make a. Baleno was unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show in September and will compete with Hyundai's Elite i20 and Honda's Jazz, among others. 
 
Baleno will have a 1.2litre petrol engine (manual and automatic variants) and 1.3-litre diesel engine. 
 
"Baleno has been developed for the global markets and India will be the exclusive manufacturing hub for the car," R S Kalsi, executive director (marketing and sales) at Maruti Suzuki, told TOI here. 
 
This will be a big achievement for the company and workers at Manesar factory said that it was a proud moment for them as a vehicle made at Indian facility will be sold in Japan. 
 
After S-Cross, Baleno will be the second car to be sold through Maruti's premium retail network 'Nexa'. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

‘Made in India’ Maruti Baleno to ply on international roads soon

As per the latest data, <keyword id="2046037" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ciaz">Ciaz</keyword>, the sedan from India’s biggest auto-maker <keyword id="44883" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maruti-Suzuki">Maruti Suzuki</keyword>, has replaced Honda City as the top-selling model in the segment in May, a rank that it has obtained for second time this year. 
 On the other hand, <keyword id="6379565" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="baleno">Baleno</keyword>, the premium hatchback from Maruti Suzuki, has also beaten Hyundai's Elite i20, and <keyword id="2776768" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vitara-Brezza">Vitara Brezza</keyword> has also seen roaring demand ever since its launch in March. Vitara Brezza has already sold more than 20,000 vehicles since March, and as of now, there is a waiting list of 45,000 vehicles. 
 
RS Kalsi, executive director of sales and marketing at Maruti, told ET that the company aims to attain leadership in the premium category. "We have emerged leaders in the premium sedan segment and target to achieve leadership in the premium compact segment soon," he said. 
 
As per industry observers, it’s the introduction of the mild hybrid technology in Ciaz that has helped attract the interest of customers, given that the future of diesel cars in India is uncertain following the ban of diesel cars registration in Delhi-NCR. Ciaz also is the only car in the segment that offers a mild hybrid option, thereby increasing the fuel efficiency. 
 
Maruti has strengthened its premium segment by adding several models to it in the year that went by. Not only this, it also launched Nexa, a separate channel for exclusively selling the S-Cross and the Baleno. 
 
"All these initiatives have to an extent helped change the perception about the brand in the customers' mind, who purely regarded it as a small-car maker," Puneet Gupta, associate director at consultancy firm IHS Automotive, told ET. 
 
<a href="http://www.nexaexperience.com/baleno.html">Image source</a>

Maruti Suzuki is driving over its rivals, thanks to strong demand for Ciaz, Baleno and Vitara Brezza

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=maruti+suzuki">Maruti Suzuki</a> launched sophisticated <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=baleno">Baleno</a> at a starting price of Rs 4.99 lakh in petrol version, while the top diesel model is priced at Rs 8.11 lakh. 
 
The automaker is eying the premium hatchback segment and its Baleno will compete with Volkswagen Polo, Honda Jazz, etc. 
 
Baleno’s petrol automatic variant, having continuously variable transmission (CVT), will be sold at Rs 6.76 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi). 
 
Maruti's NEXA dealerships have already received display and demo units. 
 
Baleno is fitted with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=apple+carplay">Apple CarPlay</a> and MSI will be the first OEM in India to offer it. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Made-in-India-Maruti-Baleno-to-ply-on-international-roads-soon/articleshow/49349700.cms">‘Made in India’ Maruti Baleno to ply on international roads soon</a> 
 
The model also has features including multi-information speedometer and UV reduction glasses. 
 Baleno is not only for the Indian market as <keyword id="44883" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maruti-Suzuki">Maruti Suzuki</keyword> will also manufacture and export the hatchback for 100 global markets. 
 
"Baleno is a real global model to satisfy our customers not only in India but also across global markets," said MSI Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa, adding “the model comes with sophisticated design and advanced technology.” 
 
MSI and its supplier partners have raked in Rs 1,060 crore in Baleno’s development. 
 
Around 5-5.3 lakh compact segment cars are sold every year in India. 
 
Maruti Suzuki plans to launch several models this fiscal and has set a target of achieving two million sales annually by 2020. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Maruti Suzuki launches the Baleno, its most ambitious yet at Rs 4.99 lakh

In today’s competitive world, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=maruti">Maruti </a>Suzuki is striving hard to transform its image of being an affordable car manufacturer to a premium automaker. And for this, the New Delhi-headquartered carmaker will roll out its Baleno hatchback, populary known as YRA, on the Indian roads on October 26, 2015. 
 
This car will be similar to the Baleno hatchback that was showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2015. The difference will, however, exist in the engine that will be offered in India. The international version is equipped with a new 1-litre Boosterjet engine; on the other hand, the India-specified Baleno hatchback will come with the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel engines, which are usually seen in current Maruti Suzuki models. 
 
As far as the design is concerned, the exterior of the new Baleno retains the standard Suzuki architecture but uses modern design touches. For instance: the new y-shaped grille and sweptback headlights come with daytime running lights. In fact, the design layout reminds of the Swift hatchback and the old Kizashi. Besides this, the side profile is one that is similar to most premium hatchbacks. 
 
The interior of this car may appear vividly different as what we get to see in the existing hatchbacks from Suzuki. In the Baleno <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=hatchback">hatchback</a>, we may even see new instrument panel that is expected to have blue-back lighting. 
 
Now moving on to the feature front, the Baleno hatchback may house a capacitive touchscreen, 2-DIN music system and drivers aids like ABS+EBD and minimal of two airbags. And for better comfort levels at the rear, Maruti Suzuki may even offer rear AC vents. 
 
With the Baleno hatchback, Maruti Suzuki is planning to enter into a head-on competition with the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=volkswagen+polo">Volkswagen Polo</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=hyundai+i20">Hyundai i20</a>. This will be the second Maruti Suzuki product to be sold exclusively through the company's premium dealership range, i.e., Nexa. 
(Image: www.autocolumn.com)

Maruti Suzuki Baleno Hatchback to hit the roads by October-end

The much-awaited, first-ever cross over model from <keyword id="44883" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maruti-Suzuki">Maruti Suzuki</keyword> has finally been launched. The S-Cross was launched in the capital today amidst a glitzy ceremony at a top 5-star hotel in the city. 
 
The S-Cross crossover sport-utility vehicle in the country will be sold at a starting price point of Rs 8.34 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). 
 <keyword id="1595175" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kenichi-Ayukawa">Kenichi Ayukawa</keyword>, managing director of <keyword id="6912" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="maruti">Maruti</keyword>, said, “Maruti <keyword id="6911" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="suzuki">Suzuki</keyword> is evolving to changing customer needs. We have to enter new areas, open up new opportunities and offer new and better products to customers.” 
 With its newly-launched S-Cross SUV, Maruti is aiming to give a stiff competition to its rivals like <keyword id="147442" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyundai-Motor-Co-">Hyundai Motor Co.</keyword>’s Creta, <keyword id="43777" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Renault">Renault</keyword> S.A.’s Duster, Ford Motor Co.’s EcoSport, Mahindra &amp; Mahindra Ltd.’s Scorpio and XUV500. 
 
The SUV measures 4.30 meters in length, 1.765 meters in width, 1.59 meters in height and 2.6 meters in wheelbase. The S-Cross has a ground clearance of 180 mm, and all variants come with 205/60 R16 tyres. 
 
Looking at the design aspect of this SUV, the S-Cross gets a dual-chrome grille up front, and rather toned down 16-inch alloy wheels. The rest of the car looks identical to the model sold in Europe. The dashboard is identical to the European S-Cross. In addition to this, the S-Cross will be offered with two diesel engines sourced from Fiat. The entry-level is 1.3-litre MultiJin the 90 PS/200 Nm tune matched to a 5-speed manual transmission. 
 
According to Indianautosblog.com: "The 1.6 litre engine settles into a quiet idle and NVH levels are indeed commendable. To put these levels into perspective, the NVH of the S-Cross 1.6 feels a tad more refined than a Swift diesel." 
 
"Flat out, the S-Cross 1.6 will hit 100 km/h in 11.3 seconds, claims Maruti. What we can tell you is that this engine needs time until 1,750 rpm to get a move-on. Progress between 1,750-4,000 rpm is extremely punchy, and dare we say addicting. However, below this point, this unit feels bogged down, forcing one to downshift for overtaking maneuvers," it said. 
 
The S-Cross is the first product to be sold through the new Nexa brand of showrooms which Maruti says, “will offer a premium experience to potential buyers.” 
(Image: www.zigwheels.com)

​The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross is here! Price starts at Rs 8.34 lakh

The car market in India is in sticky pitch. Blame it on inflation, high price of fuel and many other reasons, last few months didn’t go well for the car makers in Indian roads. However, one car maker has been <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Shares-of-Maruti-Suzuki-India-are-doing-rather-well-Know-why/articleshow/48328579.cms">doing wonders and that’s Maruti Suzuki</a>. <o:p></o:p>

	 

	<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Maruti-Suzukis-YRA-model-to-be-sold-at-its-Nexa-outlets/articleshow/48202427.cms">India’s largest car maker in terms of car sales</a> is on top gear with its recent <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-Maruti-Suzuki-S-Cross-is-here-Price-starts-at-Rs-8-34-lakh/articleshow/48358206.cms">launch of S Cross</a>, which has been pitted to compete in the compact SUV range. And just a week after, Maruti Suzuki is boasting of its achievements in the most challenging way in business. It has already announced its plans in pipeline and that includes and underlines “high number of new model launches” in this fiscal, including a compact sport utility vehicle.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	 

	The company will have a new manufacturing plant in Gujarat where its parent Suzuki Motor Corp will invest, said Centre alone cannot realise the dream of the country becoming a global manufacturing hub and states would have to play an important role.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	“2015-16 will see a high number of new model launches. Suzuki Japan and our engineers here have been jointly working on new model development, and the results are before all to see,” <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Maruti-Celerio-sales-touch-one-lakh-in-India/articleshow/48007007.cms">Maruti Suzuki India</a> (MSI) Chairman R C Bhargava said in his address to shareholders in the company’s Annual Report for 2014-15.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	“Sometime in the future, we will launch a Compact SUV which will raise our presence in the UV segment by a quantum leap,” MSI Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said.<o:p></o:p>

	Although the details of the compact SUV hasn’t been shared, the company said: “Soon, we will also introduce the Compact SUV, the concept of which was presented as XA-Alpha. This will help us cater to an emerging class of customers who prefer SUV appeal while staying compact.”<o:p></o:p>

	 

	Bhargava said, in 2014-15, after three years of stagnation, the company “grew 11.1 per cent (in sales), even though the rest of the passenger vehicle industry actually declined 1.3 per cent”.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	“Our market share, at the end of the financial year was 45 per cent and we have so far further improved this to 46.8 per cent. This has been achieved due to successful new model launches, and the efforts by all our employees in production, sales and service, supply chain, engineering, quality and other functions,” he added.<o:p></o:p>

	For 2014-15 fiscal, the company had posted its highest ever annual sales at 12,92,415 units, up 11.9 per cent, from 11,55,041 units in 2013-14. The previous high was in 2010-11, when the company had sold 12,71,005 units.<o:p></o:p>

	The company’s domestic sales during the last fiscal stood at 11,70,702 units, up 11.1 per cent, from 10,53,689 units in 2013-14 fiscal.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	On Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, Bhargava said: “The task of making India a globally competitive manufacturing hub cannot be completed in a short time or by the central government alone and states also need to play a major role.”<o:p></o:p>

	 

	“Many changes and improvements have to be made. The states have to play a major role in many areas, so that manufacturing can become competitive.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	All of us, as citizens and voters, entrepreneurs and managers, have to understand what is required to make manufacturing in India globally competitive, and nudge political parties and governments in this direction,” Bhargava said.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	Commenting on the progress by MSI to enhance R&amp;D, Bhargava said: “Our Rohtak R&amp;D facility will be completed by the time we meet next year. This will be a major step forward for the company, and will help new model development.”<o:p></o:p>

	 

	“On similar lines, we will work on a channel for commercial vehicle sales,” he said, adding by the close of the current financial year, more than <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Maruti-Suzukis-YRA-model-to-be-sold-at-its-Nexa-outlets/articleshow/48202427.cms">100 NEXA showrooms</a> would be opened in more than 30 Indian cities.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	Ayukawa said the company would also focus more on exports than it had done in the past.<o:p></o:p>

	“In particular, we have to develop the Africa and Middle-East markets. We will have to plan for launching global products to serve the advanced markets and expanding our network in the emerging markets as long term measures in building export strength,” he said.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	Commenting on the company’s manufacturing capacity, Bhargava said the two plants in Gurgaon and Manesar will be fully utilised next year and the company needed new capacity.<o:p></o:p>

	The two plants have a combined annual capacity of 15.5 lakh units. The Gujarat plant will have a total capacity of 7.5 lakh units annually when fully completed.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	He said the Gujarat plant is expected to start production in 2017. MSI will have a contract manufacturing arrangement with parent Suzuki.<o:p></o:p>

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​The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross is here! Price starts at Rs 8.34 lakh

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Now buy a Maruti S-Cross at Rs 1 lakh less!

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