Maruti Suzuki has reportedly garnered 5,000 bookings for its premium sedan, the Ciaz, bookings for which opened on September 3, says sources. This is a good figure for a company that has not been able to make a mark for itself in the sedan space with the SX4, launched in 2006 being withdrawn after lacklustre sales.

This is despite the car getting a diesel variant in 2011 when the diesel-petrol differential was quite significant. Maruti’s previous attempts have also not hit paydirt with the Baleno (which also had a station-wagon variant) and the Esteem being withdrawn thanks to poor sales.

The Ciaz launch is slated for October 10, so Maruti is geared up for the festival surge.

Autocar Professional has earlier learnt that the carmaker  has begun rolling out the Ciaz cars from last month itself at nearly 100 units a day but will ramp up to ensure a healthy stocks by launch date. The idea, say sources, is that Maruti has in stock about 10,000 units by mid-October.”