SUZUKI FAN

Suzuki, Tata Motors, Toyota, Nissan and Ford have planned to bring mini MPV to India

automakers of the country Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Toyota, Nissan and Ford have planned to focus on the mini MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) segment.Maruti is set to launch a vehicle built completely on a new platform in the next 12-18 months.

Mini MPVs are people carriers resembling smaller vans with increased interior room. Automakers are hoping that giving the mini MPVs car-like refinement, making it a 7-8 seater and pricing it competitively will bring in volume sales. The target market for mini MPVs are families who want a different vehicle with better fuel economy.

Automakers are looking at either launching all-new vehicles in the mini MPV category or developing them on an existing platform. The country’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, has also announced plans to launch a mini MPV. Christened Concept RIII, Maruti will build it on a completely new platform and will launch it in 12-18 months. While Tata Motors’ Venture is developed on the Ace mini truck platform and is set for mid-year rollout, Nissan and Ford may most likely develop the mini MPV on the Micra and Fiesta platform, respectively.

Japanese auto major Toyota may build a vehicle of this type using the Etios platform. To be positioned below the Toyota Innova, the vehicle is likely to bring in sizeable volumes for the company. However, deputy MD of Toyota Kirloskar Sandeep Singh said the current plan for the company will be to focus on the hatchback and sedan on the Etios platform.
“It’s best to launch a product in a segment that’s not yet a developed category and lacks competition. If the company manages to innovatively package the product, it could insure volume sales”, said Abdul Majeed, auto practice leader, PwC, according to sources.

The current models in this MPV are Maruti Suzuki Omni and Eeco at Rs2-3 lakhs. The new entrants are devising their strategy to price this MPV and the industry analysts feel that the MPV could come under Rs5- 6 lakh range. There is a talk that the success run of this MPV much depends on the exact pricing.
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