The iconic Maruti Omni or commonly known as the Maruti Van has been discontinued after 35 years of production.
Maruti Suzuki India has recently launched the updated Eeco MPV. The Eeco now gets safety tech including a driver-side airbag, essential for vehicles to pass the mandatory safety norms which came into effect from 1st April 2019. The Maruti Omni is another MPV from the manufacturer which is widely used in India. From a passenger vehicle to a cargo trim, the Omni has served it all. However, the manufacturer has chosen not to update the Omni which brings it to the end of its production.
The Maruti Van was introduced back in 1984 and got the Omni badge in 1988. The vehicle got another facelift in 2005 and has been the same since then. It lacked many features, especially the safety upgrades which are mandatory for all vehicles to have as a part of the new safety norms. As per the new safety norms for vehicles in India, all cars must have one driver airbag, seat-belt reminder system and a high-speed alert system. Similarly, many vehicles will be phased out as the older generation vehicles will need a lot of investment to be upgraded. The Omni also meets a similar fate.
With the discontinuation of the Maruti Omni, it is obvious that a lot of customers will now start opting for the Eeco which is also bigger and has more features. However, there is a significant price gap between the two MPVs. While the Omni had a starting price of Rs. 2.85 lakhs, the Eeco starts at Rs. 3.55 lakhs (ex-showroom). With no other options available in this segment, sales of the Eeco are bound to increase.
Maruti Omni Discontinued
– The Maruti Omni has been discontinued after 35 years of production
– The Omni got no safety updates as per the mandates of the government
– The Eeco is now going to be the preferred entry-level MPV
