According a latest report, Maruti Suzuki is looking at a brand new mid-size SUV to take on the likes of the Creta and Seltos which will be developed in partnership with Toyota. The SUV could be due in 2022.
The partnership between Maruti Suzuki and Toyota will see the former giving many of its models to the latter for badge-engineered models. Besides sharing cars, the two companies will also be collaborating for the joint development of products and technologies. This partnership is not only of great importance to the domestic market, but it holds equal importance in the global level as well. There are quite a few exciting products in the pipeline globally. There are even talks of a new mid-size SUV from Maruti Suzuki.
According to a recent report, Maruti Suzuki is looking to expand beyond the Rs 10-12 lakh segment of cars and introduce a brand new product that will go against the likes of the Hyundai Creta, the Kia Seltos and the Tata Harrier. This new mid-size SUV will reportedly be made in partnership with Toyota and the SUV is bound for a global debut in 2022. Incidentally, this upcoming SUV will be underpinned by the same platform that underpins the Vitara Brezza i.e., the Global C platform.
According to reports, the mid-size SUV and the C-segment MPV will be manufactured at Toyota’s factory in Karnata. Even Mahindra and Ford are also looking at the C-segment MPV space with their own partnership. For Maruti Suzuki and Toyota however, both brands will have their own takes on the mid-size SUV and C-segment MPV, as per each brand’s philosophy and how they would position them in the market. But before that, we will see products like the Ertiga, Vitara Brezza and Ciaz from Maruti Suzuki being rebadged by Toyota just as they did with the Glanza.
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When Maruti Suzuki stepped out of their comfort zone of selling budgets cars in 2015 with the establishment of the Nexa brand, it was a great move indeed. When Maruti launched the Vitara Brezza in 2016 under the Nexa brand, it was a game changer for the company. Back then, we only had the Ford Ecosport in the compact SUV segment space and the Brezza quickly took over in no time with with best-selling statistics. We all know how successful the car went on to be, so much so that it has pulled so many manufacturers to this segment that its now over-crowded.
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The success of the mid-size SUV segment is also not far behind and is well highlighted by the Seltos and the Hector, both of which helped establish these new brands in India. In such a scenerio, it makes great sense for Maruti Suzuki to exploit the potential of this segment, particularly on doing so with Toyota. Considering that the mid-size SUV and C-MPV will both have a premium positioning, we expect it will be sold through the Nexa dealerships exclusively.
