Maruti Alto overtakes M800 as best selling model in India

Maruti Suzuki India's entry level car Alto has become the best ever selling model in India with a cumulative total of more than 29 lakh units sold over a period of 15 years, overtaking its now phased-out M800.
Launched in September 2000, the model touched cumulative sales of 29,19,819 units in October, 2015. This was even better than what M800 -- the once bread and butter model of the company -- had achieved.
Commenting on the milestone, Maruti Suzuki Executive Director (Marketing and Sales) R S Kalsi said, "Over the years, Alto has brought happiness to 29 lakh families to become India's largest selling single brand car.

"With its success, Alto continues to remain the first choice for personal mobility solution for Indian customers."
Explaining why the model has been a success story, he said, "Alto has redefined the automobile landscape in the country. It has been the car of choice for a generation of Indians for its high fuel efficiency, low cost of maintenance and acquisition."
While the M800 took 29 years to achieve the total sales milestone, Alto took 15 years to achieve the feat.

Along its journey of 15 years, Alto, which is powered by an 800 cc engine, has witnessed upgrades and refreshes.

Maruti had introduced the AltoK10 powered by a bigger 1,000 cc engine in 2010-11.
Later in 2012-13, the company launched a completely new version of the Alto 800.
Maruti's small car M800, which had redefined personal transportation in India when it was launched in December 1983, had clocked over 28 lakh units cumulatively before the company stopped its production in January 2014.
The company commenced phasing out of the model in April 2010 with the advent of stricter BSIV emission norms in 13 cities in India.