Maruti readies new Alto, hopes to boost numbers

In order to increase sales of its small car range, Maruti will soon launch an upgrade of its 800cc Alto. The Alto, India’s best-selling compact car, has a 1000cc K-series variant as well, and both variants sell about 17,000 units a month.

The 800cc replacement, to be launched in mid-October, and coincide with the upcoming festive season, has been developed on the existing platform and gives a mileage of 22.74km a litre, based on ARAI tests. This makes it at least 15 percent more efficient than its earlier avatar.

While the car’s exteriors are largely the same, the changes in the interiors include a new dashboard and better quality. Maruti is also offering a new steering and under the hood, some tweaks to the engine.

The new Alto is expected to be priced between Rs 2.6 lakh and Rs 3.2 lakh or Rs 15,000-20,000 more than its current variant. While the base variants will not have power windows or steering, the top-end will have optional airbags. Maruti will also offer the Alto 800 with a factory-fitted CNG kit.

Slowing sales

Maruti has sold over 189,000 Altos in April-August 2012 with August sales barely over 10,000 units as a result of the one-month lockout at the Manesar facility. On average, the company’s current sales are down from nearly 25,000 in the year-earlier 12-month period. With petrol prices being hiked by close to Rs 30 a litre over the last 12 months, selling the Alto, has become a challenge.

Maruti’s closest rival, the Hyundai Eon, has an LPG variant and its sales too have been impacted by costly petrol. Since its launch a year ago, Hyundai has sold about 83,000 Eons. If Maruti is able to boost sales of the Alto with the 800cc replacement, it can claim to have offered three successful products over the last 12 months — the new Swift, the under-four metreDzire and Alto.

NIKHIL BHATIA