The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India plans to ramp up the number of its premium Nexa dealerships to 250 outlets by 2017, the carmaker said while inaugurating the 99^th outlet (by Shivam Autozone) in Mumbai today. The 100th outlet was inaugurated in Thane the same day.

Launched in July last year in line with Maruti’s strategy to diversify in the premium car market in India, Nexa has reached the 100 showrooms milestone within six months. Maruti’s new format is designed to attract customers who are looking for premium cars with a modern buying experience. The company is also betting big on the Nexa platform to achieve its target of selling two million vehicles per annum by 2020.

Even as the S-Cross, the first model under the Nexa channel, did very little to justify the significant investments by Maruti and its dealers in setting up the new channel, the success of the Baleno has come as a much-needed respite for the company. The S-Cross has sold a little over 17,000 units since its launch in August 2015.

With sales of 23,875 units from its launch on October 26 through till end-December 2015, the Baleno, which was the second model to be launched under the Nexa channel in October, overtook Hyundai’s Elite i20 in terms of sales to become the country’s most sold premium hatchback in December. According to the company, over 45,000 units of the Baleno and the S-Cross have been sold so far in the country.  

Inaugurating the 100th Nexa showroom at Thane (South) in Mumbai, R S Kalsi, executive director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India, said: “We are delighted to start the 100th Nexa showroom ahead of our plan. Through Nexa, we want to meet the diverse expectations of our customers. Customer feedback and surveys show us that there is a growing segment of car-buying Indians who value personal care, warmth and attention in their car buying and ownership experience. Nexa is designed for this segment of customers. It brings together people, technology, showroom ambience and processes to deliver the desired experience to this segment of customers.”