Suzuki Plans All New alto for India

Faced with a gaping hole in its entry-level portfolio after phasing out its old workhorse, Maruti 800, from top 13 cities in the country following the new emission norms that kicked in April, India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to give a facelift to its largest selling model, the Alto. The move comes in the backdrop of aggressive launch of new small cars by competitors.

Chairman RC Bhargava told FE just like WagonR, which Maruti refreshed recently with a new platform –– including engine, transmission and suspension –– even the Alto is due for an overhaul soon. Bhargava, though, refused to share details on Alto’s makeover.

This is the first time Maruti has officially revealed its plan to alter the decade-old Alto model, which was last refurbished in July 2005. “Alto will be subject to a facelift and model change…for a long time it has not happened. Something has to happen now…but I don’t know the time,” added Bhargava.

Maruti sold over 2.5 lakh Altos last fiscal, making it the country’s largest-selling car, ahead of WagonR. The Alto makeover was imminent, given that Maruti’s hegemony in the small car market has seen an unprecedented attack of late. Whilst the Rs 1-lakh-odd Nano is slowly taking the mantle of India’s entry-level four-wheeler, rivals Hyundai, GM, Ford and Volkswagen are snipping at its heels in the hatchback segment with competitively priced and better-looking models in i10, Beat, Figo and Polo.

GM has sold over 17,000 Beats since its launch at the Auto Expo 2010, and Ford Figo too is revving good numbers, 15,000 at the last count. Car analysts say Maruti sensed the rising threat from other carmakers and it is only natural for the company to keep refreshing its existing portfolio to compete with some of the new-age models. launched by global auto giants like General Motors and Ford. And the next 12 months will see new small car launches from Toyota, Honda and Nissan too. Shinzo Nakanishi, CEO of Maruti Suzuki, India’s largest carmaker by sales, had told FE during Auto Expo in January, “Starting this year, there will be very high pressure on us from all sides, including pressure from (commodity) prices and from competition. But, we will do everything to defend our 50% market share. We will try to absorb the price increase as much as possible.”

suzukifan say: it’s will replace current alto with new car or they will bring other Alto to sell along just like they did with A star? we think this answer will clear it about 12 month

source: finacial express

Related posts:

  1. Maruti plans to launch Alto with 1 litre K series engine
  2. Maruti Suzuki Alto, Wagon R to get new engine
  3. Maruti Suzuki Plans ‘cost down’ version of the existing Alto
  4. “At some point we will need a replacement for the Alto”,R.C. Bhargava,chairman of Maruti Suzuki
  5. Maruti Suzuki denies plans to launch Cervo in India!!
  6. Maruti to bring new variants of Alto, WagonR & Swift and run a cost-reduction programme
  7. Maruti Suzuki will launch India-made global model in 2014!
  8. Maruti Suzuki M800 has to be phased out of 11 top cities and plan a “cost down” Alto