India’s leading auto maker, Maruti Suzuki India has foreshadowed that the company will spin off long awaited XA Alpha based SUV in India within next 12 months. Showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo the SUV is eagerly awaited in India since then. This would be the first compact SUV from Indo-Japanese auto giant Maruti Suzuki India that primarily offers hatchbacks in India. The company is eyeing to expand its market share in India and hence is planning to bring a number of new vehicles including Ciaz sedan and a mew light commercial vehicle within a year. Apart from its hatchbacks, MSI’s sales is driven by its compact sedan Swift Dzire and LUZ, Ertiga. With the launch of XA Alpha compact SUV priced competitively, the company will stand a chance to increase its monthly sales gradually leading to improved market share.
In India, the SUV will compete with the likes of EcoSport and Duster primarily. However more new entrants will be inducted in the segment such as Volkswagen’s Taigun that was shown at the 2014 Auto Expo held in Greater Noida earlier this year. MSI will roll out XA Alpha based SUV in petrol and diesel guise, he diesel version is likely to get Fiat sourced 1.3 litre Multi-Jet engine that also powers other Maruti cars like Swift and Dzire. Around the festive season we will see some more launches from MSI including facelift versions of Swift hatchback and Swift Dzire compact sedan. Celerio diesel launch is also on cars along with that MSI will spawn SX4-S Cross crossover in domestic market. Besides these Maruti’s A segment hatchback that accounts for a sizeable amount of MSI’s sales will get an AMT gearbox. The company has proclaimed to invest a staggering amount on new car launches and other activities in current fiscal.
