KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- New entry level Maruti Suzuki car in works
- Likely to be offered with a mild-hybrid, CNG, and Flex-Fuel options
- Aimed at countering the falling sales in the small car segment
Maruti Suzuki has been the brands in India that had the remarkable feat of having the highest-selling car in the country for four decades in a row, until 2024. Tata Punch dethroned the long-time ruler with its Tata Punch micro SUV, an event that marks the shift in trends in the buyer's psychology. But this move has only made the brand pull up its sleeves and with an aim to recapture the market share and the top spot, a new entry-level Maruti Suzuki car is in the works that will bring a lot to the table. Read on to find out what you can expect with this new upcoming Maruti offering, but before that, make sure you are a part of our 91Wheels Whatsapp Channel, specifically curated for all avid petrolheads like us, to never miss out on any automotive updates.
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New Entry-Level Maruti Suzuki Car: What To Expect
Maruti Suzuki's not just throwing a new small car into the mix; they're looking at some serious engine options to make it a winner. Maruti has a pretty strong footing in the CNG space which is also evident with how they've been pushing CNG with almost every model. But this time around, they're also playing with mild-hybrid tech and even flex-fuel with the entry-level model, which is pretty interesting. This whole push is about getting back to that 50% market share they used to own, with an aim to do it before the decade's out. Basically, Suzuki's plan is to really focus on what first-time buyers in India want. They're talking about a unique car, something that'll grab the attention of folks earning between 5 and 13 lakh rupees. And yes, a diverse range of fuel options like CNG, hybrid, and flex-fuel, they're all part of that strategy, which works pretty well for Maruti as well. The brand is aimed at families who are shifting from motorcycles to their first cars as well as those in the space where the fuel economy and affordable price tag play a major role.
Dwindling Small Car Sales In Recent Times
The market scenario has shifted towards a more SUV oriented market with the small hatchback car segment taking the biggest hit. This has a lot to do with the increasing costs of small cars where buyers are pushed towards small SUVs. Maruti Suzuki is slipping a bit, down to around 41% of the market. It's the small car segment that's really hurting them, which is ironic since that's where they used to dominate. Sure, they're dipping their toes into the SUV craze, but if they want to get back to that golden 50% number, they've got to fix their small car game and that is exactly what the roadmap looks like.
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As for the launch and other details, the launch looks a little away in future and while the most affordable Maruti car is the Alto K10 at Rs. 4.09 lakhs ex-showroom, the new model will aim to hit somewhere not too far away from this price point. However, the availability of a mild-hybrid system at the entry level will work wonders, churning out even more fuel economy.
Verdict
Maruti Suzuki, long the undisputed king of Indian roads, is facing a real challenge. They used to own over half the market in pretty much every car type they sold. But things have changed. Competition is fierce, and small car sales have taken a tumble as people's tastes have moved beyond the usual small cars. Suzuki's latest business plan makes it clear: they want that 50% market share back. And to do it, they're betting big on a brand-new, one-of-a-kind small car designed specifically to win over those first-time buyers. And given their record of nailing the affordable segment dynamics, they hold the potential to turn the tables in their favour.
