Maruti Suzuki had recently launched the popular hatchback Celerio in diesel with much glamor and vigor. Though initially it did manage to catch interest, it soon witnessed steady drop in demand. The company had invested about Rs 900 crores towards development of 2-cylinder diesel engine while anticipating about 20-30% of customers to opt for it.
Though demand for diesel trim has seen a steep decline, the sales for AMT and petrol variants has remained pretty stable. With the recent introduction of Ciaz SHVS, the customer interest for the sedan has been more than that of the Celerio hatchback. Sources have also attributed the drop in demand due to low performance, reducing gap between petrol and diesel variants and high premium for a 2-cylinder vehicle as compared to its petrol counterpart.
However, R.S.Kalsi, Director Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India has denied this claim and has stated that the company has indeed been witnessing more demand than expected and is considering plans to ramp up its production. Moreover, as stated to sources, the company might as well ramp up its diesel engine production to utilize it in its popular seller Alto 800.
Source: Team BHP
![Maruti Suzuki Celerio [2017-2021]](https://imgd-ct.aeplcdn.com/160x89/n/cw/ec/31314/celerio-exterior-right-front-three-quarter-2.jpeg?q=80 "Maruti Suzuki Celerio [2017-2021]")
