In an exciting news, it has come to light that there is a Maruti Grand Vitara-based 7-seater SUV in the works. The leading car manufacturer in the country is placing a significant emphasis on SUVs. Presently, it enjoys substantial sales with models like the Brezza and Grand Vitara. Looking ahead, the company aims to extend its SUV offerings to an even more practical segment. This is where the 7-seat SUV, based on the Grand Vitara and codenamed Y17, comes into play. Maruti Suzuki envisions this new SUV as a means to expand its current 20% market share in the utility vehicle market. Once launched, it will take on the likes of Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus and Mahindra XUV700.
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Maruti Grand Vitara-Based 7-Seat SUV
A recent report by Autocar India reveals the plans of the largest carmaker in the country with regard to SUVs. It is planning to launch a 7-seat SUV based on the Grand Vitara with a strong hybrid powertrain. It will be in production at Maruti’s Kharkhoda plant, in Haryana in 2025. Talking to Autocar Professional, Hisashi Takeuchi, MD and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India said, “The SUV trend is becoming bigger. At present, the main SUV categories are 4 metres and 4.3 metres, but they will expand further [into sub-segments] – a little bit at the lower end and also at the upper end. There are gaps, we can offer something at the bottom and something at the top, and we will try to fill those gaps.”
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After the strong performance of Grand Vitara on the sales charts, Maruti Suzuki wants to expand its footprint in our market. In terms of its total SUV market share, Maruti Suzuki boasts 20% of the total market in this category. Going forward, it wants to increase this number to 33%. That will, in turn, contribute to Maruti’s overall strategy to achieve a 50% total market share again. At present, this number hovers somewhere around 42%. Going for the SUV segments seems like the logical move in this regard considering their immense popularity. This 7-seat SUV will be a direct rival of the Hyundai Alcazar, and MG Hector Plus. Also, it could become a relatively cheaper alternative to the Mahindra Scorpio N and Tata Safari
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Author’s Note
According to the report, Maruti Suzuki has set a target to sell approximately 2,50,000 units annually for both this SUV and a 7-seat variant based on the Grand Vitara. Leveraging its strong reputation in India and extensive network of service and sales dealerships, Maruti Suzuki anticipates a high demand for a practical SUV in this category while offering incredible mileage figures, solidifying its position as the country’s largest carmaker. Stay tuned for more updates on this front.
