'Maruti eyes greater play in bigger vehicles

Aims to quadruple exports over 5-10 years

Small car giant Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), which took covers off crossover utility vehicle S-Cross and concept sedan Ciaz, is looking at introducing three products across midsize sedan and utility vehicles categories over the next two years to have a larger play in mid-range premium vehicles market in the country.

Kenichi Ayukawa, managing director and chief executive officer, MSIL declined to specify a timeline for launch of the new vehicles but industry sources informed the S-Cross is likely to go on sale sometime next year. “The S Cross will hit roads before the commercial production version of sports utility vehicle XA Alpha. But we cannot share exact timing of launch”, said Ayukawa.

The SX4 S-cross is a compact crossover is built on a new platform and is roughly the size of a Renault Duster. The Suzuki Ciaz sedan concept, which would replace the SX4, is likely to hit roads by the end of 2014 or beginning 2015. The third vehicle – the SUV based on XA Alpha concept – would in the meantime islikely to come only in 2016.

All new models introduced by Maruti Suzuki would also be manufactured in left-hand drive (LHD) versions. Ayukawa added, “We want to expand the scope of exports out of India. Suzuki has entrusted Maruti Suzuki with the responsibility of producing and selling vehicles in Africa, West Asia and some markets in south-east Asia. Exports of right-hand drive models are limited to former British colonies and we have decided to make LHD options to double exports to 20,000 units per month in short-term” Long-term over the enxt 5-10 years, the company wants to quadruple exports to 30,000-40,000 units on a monthly basis.

Maruti Suzuki has already begun manufacturing LHD version of the Swift at its Manesar plant for the West Asian, African and Latin American markets. Earlier, vehicles for these markets were being made in Japan as Maruti did not have the capability to manufacture LHD Swift. The company is also making LHD variants of small car Alto and sedan Dzire for exports.

Suzuki’s plant in Japan will now produce Swifts for the home market and small export volumes for developed markets that require a bigger, 1.4-litre petrol engine. In India, the Swift is fitted with 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel engines.

The LHD version is important since 65 per cent of Africa is LHD and Maruti can now supply there. Maruti exports to about 100 countries, a large part of which is CKD exports of models like the Swift and Ertiga.

Separately, Maruti is also working on feasibility studies in order to set up assembly plants in various emerging markets such as Sri Lanka and South Africa. A decision on commencing assembly operations in overseas markets was expected by end of this fiscal but Ayukawa said the company needs time for “more study”.