Maruti to export Baleno from January 2016

Company says launch of Baleno would not tear into market share of Swift and Dzire

The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki aims to start exports of its latest premium hatchback, Baleno from January 2016.

"We would be exporting Baleno to over 100 countries including Japan from January next year. This is the first instance when a Maruti car made in India would be shipped to Japan. Our export orders are expected to be firmed up by December this year", said Sanjeev Handa, vice president (marketing), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.

He dismissed speculation that the launch of Baleno would tear into the market share of Swift and Dzire, the two best sellers from the Maruti stable.

"We don't buy the view that Baleno would eat into the market share of Swift and Dzire. Rather, it would only add to our overall hatchback sales. We have already made a mark with the launch of S Cross and Cias", Handa said.

He declined to offer guidance on sales targets for Baleno.

On plans to expand Nexa retail outlets, he said, "This fiscal, we had set a target to roll out 100 Nexa outlets and we have already opened 80 across 42 cities. The rest 20 outlets would be launched before the end of this fiscal", he said.

Baleno will be sold through Nexa, the new chain of premium exclusive automotive retail outlets recently launched by Maruti Suzuki.

Baleno comes with a sophisticated design and advanced technology. A lighter but stronger platform has helped Maruti Suzuki engineers to offer best in class fuel efficiency in petrol as well as diesel options. Further, ABS and dual airbags are offered as standard in all variants of Baleno.