India’s largest carmaker plans to upgrade engines, introduce new platforms and launch more models with automatic transmissions
Maruti Suzuki is by far the most successful car manufacturer in India. Its current market share is over the 47 per cent mark and that’s astonishing in a country like ours. However, the Japanese automaker doesn’t plan to slow down by any means. As per a report published by PTI, Maruti Suzuki has some exciting plans for the near future. The company plans to upgrade engines, introduce new platforms and bring in more models with automatic transmissions. Maruti’s target is to sell two million (20 lakh) units per annum by 2020.
Maruti Suzuki products are targeted at the masses. The most expensive offering is the S-Cross, which tops out at Rs 12.04 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The company aims to sell 1.5 lakh vehicles with AGS (auto gear shift), CVT (continuously variable transmission) or AT (automatic transmission) units in the current fiscal and reach the 3 lakh sales mark by 2020. Currently, their sales figure is at around 94,000.
C V Raman, who is the executive director R&D at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, further clarified that the company is planning to offer AGS technology in all its models up to the Dzire sedan. From the Baleno onwards, Maruti Suzuki has been considering CVT and AT variants in its lineup.
He further added that Maruti Suzuki has increased the production capacity of such transmissions and has worked hard on localisation of parts to make the technology affordable. "Our experience on AGS has been quite positive. It accounts for over 40 per cent sales in Celerio, 13 per cent in Wagon R, 15 per cent in Alto K10, 26 per cent in Ignis," Raman said.
On the engines front, Raman said that the CAFE (corporate average fuel efficiency) norms are in sight and upgrading the current engine families will be a key project. "CAFE norms are coming, so we will have to upgrade engines. Currently, we are talking only about A and B segments, but in other segments, we will have to look at new platforms," he said.
Maruti Suzuki is also working towards making its entire product portfolio compliant with BS-VI emission norms by April 2020. The company is also working to meet the fast-approaching mandate on safety norms as well.
Raman also added that the company will introduce a total of 15 products in the country by 2020, out of which eight have already been launched.
Also Read: Maruti Dzire: First Drive Review
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