The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) is looking forward to locally assemble its sports utility vehicle Grand Vitara by next year, as it looks to bring an advanced version of the SUV to arrest falling sales.     

Sources say, “The Company, which currently imports the Grand Vitara from Japan, has already started the initial process for starting assembly of the SUV, including talks with component makers for supply of parts”. 

MSI is also looking forward to bring the advanced version of Vitara in India, mainly to arrest the falling sales of the SUV. Though there were no comments on the future products from the company’s spokesman. Initially the company would sell the new Vitara as a completely-built-unit (CBU).     

The Grand Vitara, which is fitted with a 2.4-litre petrol engine, is currently imported to India as a CBU and is priced between Rs 16.70-18.00 lakh for the manual and automatic transmission versions. The car is priced high due to 100% import duty, currently making it uncompetitive. The source, however, said MSI's plans would be dependent on the market response to the advanced version of the SUV to be introduced in 2010.     

Recently, the sales of the Grand Vitara is falling drastically. During April-September period, sales of the SUV fell nearly 70 per cent to just 59 units from 194 units in the year-ago period, according to Society of Indian Manufacturer Association.    

MSI tried to improve the sales by launching an advanced version of the car but failed. . In September, sales declined by 53 per cent to only 9 units as against 19 units in the same month last year. Now, it is taking a step forward and planning to decrease the price by assembling it locally and reducing on import duty, to improve the sales. 

Best Selling Maruti Suzuki Cars in India
Maruti Zen Estilo (Hatchback)
Maruti SX4 (Sedan)
Maruti Gypsy (SUV)
Maruti Grand Vitara (SUV)
Maruti Omni (VAN)
Maruti Versa (VAN)
Maruti 800 (Hatchback)
Maruti Alto (Hatchback)
Maruti Zen (Hatchback)
Maruti Swift (Hatchback)

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Maruti Alto and WagonR now with latest new Gen Engine
Maruti unveils new SX4 sedan with VVT engine & automatic transmission
Maruti Suzuki registers net sales of Rs 70,496mn for Q2 2009-10

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Posted by Naresh Koshti on 7 November, 2009 3:59:18 PM IST #