Maruti Suzuki has decided to enter the sub-800cc segment. Two cars in this segment, already in operation in Japan, will be unveiled during the Delhi Auto Expo in January, to gauge viewers’ response.
Well Maruti is now taking no chances and wants to launch cars which will help to increase the portfolio and also get a real competitor the Tata Nano.
Called Palette and MR Wagon, these cars are powered by parent Suzuki’s smallest engine till date. On the basis of the feedback at the expo, a production version would be readied for the Indian market and either one or both of the compact cars would be launched in the next two-three years.
Maruti is also working on a sub 800cc car which was caught testing. This car could be the replacement for the current Alto.
The Alto, Maruti’s current bestseller, will remain the entry-level car for the automaker in India and the new cars will be positioned on par or above Alto’s price tag of Rs 2.96 lakh.
Although the size of the engine is smaller than the Alto’s, the new small cars will have greater interior space, thanks to the improved height, compared to the Alto 800. Additional features of the two cars will be announced by the company later.
The move to bring in new small cars was triggered by the constant slide in Maruti’s market share in the passenger car segment.
Source: BS
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