Inauspicious

Maruti Udyog Ltd launched the new Maruti 800 on Saturday when customers avoid buying new vehicles. Many other avoid doing any thing new on the 13th day of the month which that Saturday was. It seems the whole launch was hurriedly planned without any advance publicity, resulting in a flop, except for some initial brisk sale of the following Monday. The dealers were not prepared for the launch and could arrange inaugural ceremonies at their showrooms only after a day or two. Also the company itself failed to launch the Deluxe version on the 13th.

The new model has only cosmetic changes which can only attract as a fad. It is surprising that the Maruti-800 was being sold at discounted cost even though other car companies were unable to launch a competitive model. All this is due to faulty marketing by Maruti Udyog.

The new model is not at all technologically advanced, and is likely to give poorer results than the earlier one. The 3-cylinder 793 cc engine could never run the car air-conditioner properly and it often tripped with the rise in city temperature. Now, with increased body-weight, the air-conditioned model will be a big flop.

The only technological improvement is in the rear suspension with superior coil springs and gas-charged shock-absorbers which are introduced only in the Deluxe model. This feature must be in the ordinary model also. Technologically advanced radial tyres which give much more mileage with less punctures, should be there in all Maruti cars, ordinary or deluxe. Till a better engine is fitted in the new Maruti-800, its air-conditioned model must not be produced.

Due to the major drawbacks of Maruti-800, knowledgeable customers are forced to opt for the costlier Zen, resulting in premium charged by Maruti dealers in the name of holding cost.

To avoid consumers being harassed by private dealers, Maruti Udyog must restart its subsidiary Maruti Sales & Services Ltd, which may compulsorily handle sale to all government departments and undertakings, apart from sale to normal customers.