Maruti Suzuki India's updated Baleno has recorded sales of approximately 50,000 units within two months of its launch in September, while the Brezza compact SUV now has a waiting period exceeding three months, according to a senior company official.
"We have done 50,000 units of Baleno in just two months," Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, told this publication. The updated premium hatchback was launched on September 5.
The updated Baleno, introduced at a starting price of ₹6.09 lakh (ex-showroom), received revised styling and additional features, including Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and ventilated front seats. The update is aimed at strengthening the model's position in the premium hatchback segment, where it competes with models such as the Hyundai i20 and Tata Altroz.
The strong response to the Baleno comes at a time when Maruti Suzuki continues to emphasise the importance of hatchbacks, even as SUVs account for a growing share of the Indian passenger vehicle market.
In October, the company reported sales of 1,00,877 units in the combined mini, compact and mid-size passenger car category, an increase of 18.4% from 85,210 units in the corresponding month last year. The Baleno is part of this category, alongside models such as the Alto, WagonR, Swift and Dzire.
Demand has also remained strong for the Brezza, which received a major update earlier this year, including an expanded powertrain lineup. "Brezza has got a waiting period of more than three months now," Banerjee said.
The latest waiting-period estimate comes despite Maruti Suzuki increasing production of the compact SUV. During its October sales briefing, Banerjee said Brezza volumes had crossed 22,000 units for the month, but demand continued to exceed available supply.
The updated Brezza is offered with turbo-petrol, 1.5-litre petrol and CNG powertrain options, broadening its appeal across customer groups. In an earlier interaction with Autocar India, Banerjee had said turbo-petrol variants accounted for more than 40% of initial bookings, indicating strong interest in the newly introduced engine option.
The demand for the Brezza is part of a broader expansion in Maruti Suzuki's utility vehicle business. In October, the company's utility vehicle volumes rose 26% year-on-year to 97,787 units, compared with 77,571 units a year earlier.
Maruti Suzuki has been increasing overall production to meet demand. According to Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, average daily production rose from around 9,100 vehicles in the first quarter of FY27 to 9,600 in the second quarter and 10,100 in October.
However, supply has yet to fully catch up with demand. Maruti Suzuki had approximately 2.5 lakh pending vehicle bookings as of November 6, while dealer inventory stood at just 12 days at the end of October. The company is planning further capacity expansion to support deliveries and sustain growth in the second half of the financial year.