Maruti Suzuki has 2,000+ dealerships in India

The Indian biggest PV carmaker, Maruti has more than 2,000 dealerships in the Indian market, according to the fresh news from Economic Times. The company has reached a new milestone in the automotive market with the well-acceptance from all-generation people in the country.

Related: Maruti Suzuki reports 47.6% share in domestic PV market in ongoing fiscal

On an average basis, Maruti Suzuki added nearly 200 dealerships in the last five years. The car manufacturer has 1,100 dealerships in the duration of 2011 – 12 and the number increased to 2,007 outlets/dealerships in 2016 – 17. In India, the domestic car maker has presence in 1,643 towns and cities.

Along with the general dealerships, the company has established the premium NEXA network to retail the premium products, including Baleno, S-Cross and Ignis. Maruti has opened the 200^th NEXA showroom on 30^th January 2017 and also planned to expand the network to 250 units by the fiscal end of 2016-17.

Maruti Suzuki aims to retail around 20lakh units annually by expanding the sales network to 4,000 units by 2020. The number includes regular dealerships, commercial dealerships, NEXA dealerships and the company’s true value dealerships.

Related: India-made Maruti Ignis (Suzuki Ignis) exported to Indonesia

To sell the new LCV Super Carry, Maruti has already planned to open new 50 commercial dealerships by the end of 2016.

Two days back, Maruti Alto K10 Plus has launched in the country without any announcement in the country. The carmaker will four next-generation models in the next fiscal, such as Maruti Ciaz Facelift, Maruti S-Cross Facelift, 2017 Maruti Swift and 2017 Maruti Swift Dzire.

Next generation Volkswagen Polo production starts in June 2017

The German car brand, Volkswagen has stated that the next generation VW Polo hatchback will enter production in around next three to four months. The upcoming Polo will be the sixth generation model features the advanced modular MQB A0 platform for a new look. SRK designs released the sketch of the sixth-generation Polo, which will be offered in Blue, White and different color combinations.

Related: Volkswagen to focus on petrol hybrids

As per the news, the production of the new Polo car will be commenced in the European market as an initial commitment. The production of Polo will be initiated at the Volkswagen Navarra factory (manufacturing unit) in Spain.

The Germany Company has already started the production of MQB Polo at the South African plant. With the VW Group’s MQB A0 platform underpins in the 2017 Seat lbiza, the Polo gets the evolutionary design, greater compliance and alternative powertrains.

Related: Volkswagen India to introduce Vento Highline Plus in India

The 2017 VW Polo will be offered in different engine options, 1.0-litre MPI petrol, 1.5-litre TSI Evo petrol, 1.0-litre TSI petrol and petrol-CNG and 1.6-litre TDI diesel. The types of engines expected to be offered in the European market only. For India, it won’t get such types of engines and three-door hatchback body type.

Currently, the VW Polo is one of the best-selling hatchbacks in India and the next-gen India-specific Polo will get the exclusive design with the advanced engine options to compete with the existing hatchbacks.

India-made Maruti Ignis (Suzuki Ignis) exported to Indonesia

According to the spy shots from Autonetmagz, the India-made Suzuki Ignis is exported to the Indonesia market. The Ignis expected to be launched by end of this month or in the next month. Indonesia will be the first Ignis export market for the Indian car market leader.

Related: Suzuki expects India to be third highest car market by 2020

The variants of the Indonesia-specific Suzuki Ignis leaked in the last month and it is reported to be launched in three grades, GL, GLX and GLX AT and priced at Rp. 139.5 million, Rp. 159.5 million and Rp. 169.5 million respectively. The Suzuki Ignis will give the toughest competition to the Toyota Etios, Honda Brio, Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan March.

The Suzuki Ignis offered with one engine option, 1.2L four-cylinder K-series petrol engine, which is rated at 83 PS (61 kW) of power and the torque of 113Nm. The automatic variant offers with the 5-speed AGS – Auto Gear Shift and the basic variants to be featured with the 5-speed manual gearbox. The Maruti Ignis returns the ARAI certified mileage of 20.89kmpl in Indian road conditions. The company is expecting that around mileage will be returned by the Indonesia-specific Ignis.

Related: Passenger Vehicle reported 9% sales growth in February in India

The new car features the high range of equipment including automatic climate control, steering mounted audio controls, roof rails, LED headlamps with daytime running lights, automatic climate control, 7-inch touch screen infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, foglamps with chrome embellisher, as well.

Suzuki expects India to be third highest car market by 2020

The Japanese car company, Suzuki Motor Corporation expects that Indian to be grown as the third biggest car market in the world by end of this decade. This statement was announced by Kinji Saito, Executive General Manager of Suzuki at the Geneva Motor Show.

Related: Next-generation Maruti Swift launches in early 2018

Coming to the subject, its associated company Maruti Suzuki reports around 50% of the passenger vehicle market in India. Moreover, it has already started operations at the Gujarat plant, which is the new manufacturing plant in India. As part of the plan, the manufacturing unit is to increase the total production to 2 million units by end of this decade.

According to him, Suzuki has been named as the market leader for few decades and reported nearly 50% market share. Currently, the company plans to launch the new feature-rich oriented products in the country as it has increased its production capacity with the new manufacturing facilities.

Related: Maruti Ignis mini crossover sales crossed 10,000 units

A few of operations have been already started at the Gujarat to meet the production capacity of two million units in India. The new plant has been opened with the 7.5lakh unit’s production capacity in a year. Both Manesar and Gurgaon have a total production capacity of 1.5 million units per year.

The list of products including next generation Swift, upgraded S-Cross, next-generation Swift Dzire, will be launched in the next year. In this fiscal from April 2016 to February 2017, Maruti Suzuki has sold around a total of 13 lakh units.

Related: Maruti Suzuki reports 11.7% growth in domestic sales in February 2017

In the global market, Suzuki Motor Corporation reported 2.9 million units in the last year.

Passenger Vehicle reported 9% sales growth in February in India

Economic Times stated that the Indian PV market registered 9.01% sales growth in the last month with sales of 2,55,359 units, as per the data from SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers). The PV segment includes utility vehicles, passenger cars and vans. With the launch of new SUVs and compact SUVs, the UV segment posted the highest sales growth of 21.79 percent and stood at 65,887 units. The segment of vans reported 8.10% growth at 16,859 units. Similarly, the passenger cars have minimum growth of 4.90% at 1,72,623 units in the country.

Related: Mahindra domestic sales declined in February 2017

Coming to the other segments, the two-wheeler segment including motorcycles, mopeds and scooters reported the decline of 0.01 percent at 1,362,045 units in the last month. Mopeds and scooters sales were increased by 15.99 percent and 3.70 percent respectively. Motorcycles reported negative sales of 3.13 percent in the last month.

The CV segment has reported 7.34 percent sales growth with the sales of 66,939 units compared to 62,359 units in the year-ago month. The MHCV segment including trucks, buses, tippers, as well increased by 5.02 percent growth in February 2017. Sales of Light Commercial Vehicles have positive growth of 9.38% with sales of 36,418 units. Moreover, the segment of three wheelers declined to 35,536 units from 44,956 units in February 2016.

Related: Maruti Suzuki reports 11.7% growth in domestic sales in February 2017

Slowly, the impact of demonetisation away from the automotive industry so that the most of the segments reported positive sales in the country. The automotive industry will have improvement in the next fiscal with the implementation of GST (Goods and Service Tax).

Audi launched 2017 Q3 in India at Rs. 34.20 lakh

Audi, the German based luxury car manufacturer, has launched its Audi Q3 facelift with the mechanical and design updates in the Indian market at the price tag of Rs. 34.20 lakhs.  Audi Q3 is offered in two powertrain options and priced Rs. 34.20 lakh on the front-wheel drive system integrated model and Rs. 37.20 lakh on the 2.0-litre all-wheel TDI Quattro model. It is the second facelift of the Audi Q3, which gets the minor updates in terms of styling and line-up of engines updated with the high power.

Related: 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet Available In India At Rs. 47.98 Lakh

Now, the updated Q3 2.0-litre Quattro diesel model returns the power of 184hp and has an increment of around 4% compared to the older model that is rated at 177hp.  The newer and older models stayed at the similar torque and the diesel engine is paired with the 7-speed automatic gearbox. While the Audi front-wheel drive Q3 comes with the new diesel automatic combination and rated at 150hp and 340Nm. The new one is around 10hp and 20Nm higher than the older manual model.

Related: Volkswagen to focus on petrol hybrids

Audio Q3 claims mileage of 18.51kmpl for the front-wheel drive version and 15.17kmpl for the TDI Quattro version. In terms of features, the Audi Q3 comes with the standard panoramic sunroof, 17-inch V-spoke alloy wheels, deluxe automatic control system (dual-zone) and LED headlamps. Compared to the older model, the new one comes with the MMI navigation system, reverse camera and cruise control. The new Audi Q3 is a competitor for existed luxury cars, the Mercedes GLA and BMW X1.

Next-generation Maruti Swift launches in early 2018

Maruti Suzuki Swift is the demanding and highest selling hatchback among the existing hatchbacks in the country. The model has been gaining good response from the younger generation with the good looking design layout, advanced equipment and mechanical specifications. With the acceptance from the customers, Maruti Suzuki has planned to launch the next-generation Swift in the early months of the next year.

Related: Maruti Ignis mini crossover sales crossed 10,000 units

The next generation Swift has revealed at the ongoing motor show in Geneva and it was internally coded as YSD and built on the new platform, HEARTECT. The third generation swift will get the different architecture compared to Ignis and Baleno.

With the lighter and rigid Heartect architecture and the new generation platform, the new Swift will have the sportier design. The lightweight platform will enhance the car handling and performance riding, whereas the rigid platform will make the swift safer.

Related: Maruti Suzuki launched Baleno RS at Rs 8.69 lakh

Swift is the iconic brand for the biggest carmaker so that the company is planning to bring a new avatar to hit the market. Being an upcoming hatchback, the Swift is available with the sleeker headlamp and premium interior with the contemporary instrument cluster and infotainment system.

The new Swift will get the upcoming fuel-efficiency and crash regulations. In fact, the company’s five models have already certified with the advanced safety and regulations on side impact, offset and safety.

Maruti Ignis mini crossover sales crossed 10,000 units

Maruti Ignis is a small crossover launched in the country in January 2017 and the model has crossed 10,000 units of sales, as per the report form Economic Times. The sub 4-metre car has been introduced in the market as a third exclusive Nexa model after the S-Cross and Baleno. Being a premium urban compact, the Ignis offers with the different exterior design including captivating headlamps, front grille with chrome accents in the top end versions, as well.

Related: Maruti Suzuki launched Baleno RS at Rs 8.69 lakh

Currently, the company is manufacturing 4,500 to 5,000 units of the Ignis in a month in Gurgaon. Even though, the model has received a waiting period of around 2 to 3 months due to the initial demand for the Ignis in the country. The demand for the Ignis is low compared to the Baleno hatchback that has received more than 40,000 bookings in around one month from launch.

With the Ignis crossover, Maruti Suzuki is planning to regain the 50 percent market share in the Indian automotive industry. The car is offered in four trim levels including Sigma, Delta, Zeta and Alpha and featuring the advanced interior equipment, 7-inch infotainment system, remote keyless entry, remote keyless entry, power adjustable mirrors and more.

Related: Maruti Vitara Brezza crosses 1 lakh sales in India

The Ignis is available in two engine options, 1.2-litre VVT petrol engine rated at the maximum power of 61kW and the other one is 1.3-litre four-cylinder DDiS diesel, which has a capability to return 55.2kWof power. The basic two versions offered with the standard transmission whereas the top-end trims, Delta and Zeta have offered with an AMT option.

The Ignis was priced at Rs. 4,59,000 on the base variant in ex-showroom of Delhi. Contact the nearest Nexa dealerships to get the best quote as well as book the test drive for the Ignis car.

Maruti Suzuki launched Baleno RS at Rs 8.69 lakh

The biggest Indian carmaker, Maruti Suzuki has launched the Baleno RS in the Indian market at Rs 8.69 lakh (Delhi ex-showroom). The performance based hatchback will be offered only on the Alpha top-end variant. More than one week back, the company commenced the pre-bookings for Maruti Baleno RS but, it didn’t disclose the number of bookings received by the car.

Related: Maruti Vitara Brezza crosses 1 lakh sales in India

Maruti has invested a total amount of Rs 168 million on the new Baleno RS, which gets the 1.0L BoosterJet engine rated at the 75Kw power and 150Nm torque. Being a larger PV market leader, it is the first time Maruti Suzuki is introducing the new BoosterJet engine, which is mated to the 5-speed manual gearbox.

The Boosterjet engine generates the maximum power that is 20% more than the general 1.2L petrol engine. Similarly, the torque delivered by the new engine is 30% higher than the basic 1.2L engine. The performance hatchback Baleno RS returns the mileage of 20.1 kmpl on the Baleno RS and gives excitement to the customers, who seek more performance and throttle response.

Related: Maruti Suzuki reports 11.7% growth in domestic sales in February 2017

Features like the perfect design and the fuel-efficient engine have made the car/vehicle as a full-fledged car. The Baleno RS is available with the black colored alloy wheels, projector headlamps with DRLs, standard front grille finished with chrome and rear door spoiler.

                                   

Baleno RS is designed based on the existing standard version of Baleno that is best-selling car in the country. The company sold more than 1.38 lakh units of Baleno in the period of April 2016 to January 2017 in the domestic market. The dimension of the new car changed but, it will feature the redesigned front and rear bumper for muscular and bigger look.

Related: Maruti Ertiga Limited Edition Available At Rs. 7.85 Lakh

The Baleno RS gets the RS badging at the rear side and features the 170mm ground clearance to target the young customers in India. As per the news, it will be offered in good-looking seven exterior colors. Like the Baleno, it will be retailed through the Nexa network, which has been expanding the premium outlets with the hospitality services.

Maruti Suzuki reports 11.7% growth in domestic sales in February 2017

The leading car manufacturer in the country, Maruti Suzuki has confirmed in the presence of media, the company sold a total of 1,30,280 units in the last month, compared to 1,17,451 units in February 2016. In which of the total units, the domestic market has received 1,20,735 units of sales whereas the remaining units (9,545 units) from exports.

Related: Maruti Baleno RS To Officially Launch On 3rd March 2017

The minicar segment with the models like Maruti Suzuki Wagon R and Alto has reported a decline of 6.8% with 33,079 units in the last month compared to 35,495 units in February 2016. With the entry of Maruti Suzuki Ignis, the compact segment registered a total of 47,002 units in February 2017 that leads to reporting a growth of 9.4% compared to 42,970 units in February 2016. In the company’s compact segment, the Maruti Baleno, Maruti Swift, Maruti Celerio and Maruti Swift Dzire are the popular cars.

The Dzire Tour has declined by 26.9% whereas the Ciaz sedan registers more than 5,886 units of in the previous month compared to 5,162 units in the year-ago month. The Maruti Vitara has triple-digit growth of over 110% in the last month. A total of 17,863 units of utility vehicles, including Maruti S-Cross, Maruti Ertiga and Maruti Gypsy, sold by the car market leader.  

Related: Maruti Ertiga Limited Edition Available At Rs. 7.85 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki sold 1.08 lakhs of units in the domestic market in Feb 2016. The overall exports reported 2.2% in the last month with sales of 9,545 units, compared to 9,336 units in the year-ago month.