A full-size Maruti SUV is under development that will be positioned above the Vitara Brezza.
Maruti Suzuki is said to be working on a slew of SUVs to be launched over the next few years. Inspired by the success of its compact SUV, Vitara Brezza, a bigger SUV from Maruti is on its way that will, of course, be positioned above the Vitara Brezza and will take on the likes of the Mahindra XUV500 and Tata Hexa.
The SUV will be developed on Suzuki’s fifth generation C platform and is slated to go into production by 2020. Maruti Suzuki is also studying a feasibility of developing a small SUV positioned below the Vitara Brezza. However there is no decision being taken on this front, say Suzuki top executives.
Sales of the utility vehicles segment grew at nearly 30 percent to 7,61,997 units for the financial year ended 31st March 2017, leaving behind the passenger car segment by a huge margin (car sales grew at less than 4 percent). The Vitara Brezza was the key driver in Maruti achieving double-digit sales growth in fiscal 2017, selling 1,95,741 units and gaining a market share of 38 percent in the entry UV (utility vehicle) space.
Maruti Suzuki did try its luck in the premium car market with the sedan Kizashi and SUV Grand Vitara, both of which didn’t quite manage to bring volumes. But Maruti isn’t going to mourn on this fact and instead has made its mind to offer products across the value chain. An SUV positioned above the Vitara Brezza (Maruti intends to retain within its fold the existing customer base when they choose to upgrade) and hence this SUV will very well be an upgrade if an existing Vitara Brezza owner wants to opt for a bigger car.
Maruti is planning an SUV-styled hatchback to take on the Renault Kwid and is also studying a separate architecture that could produce a small SUV and a hatchback. By 2020, India’s largest car maker is looking at growing annual sales to 2 million units.
Full-Size Maruti SUV
– Maruti is developing a bigger SUV to take on the Mahindra XUV500 and Tata Hexa
– The SUV will be developed on Suzuki’s fifth generation C platform
– The full-size SUV will go into production by 2020
Source – ETAuto.com