Maruti Suzuki competes in the compact SUV segment with just one product the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza which is one of the top-selling SUVs in the compact SUV segment. The brand could now be planning to bring in another compact SUV in the Indian market to expand its compact SUV portfolio and give the customers a wider choice. The new vehicle will be a mini-Crossover that will help the brand compete better with rivals such as Honda, Kia and Hyundai. The new mini-crossover SUV is also expected to allow the company to gain back the grounds lost to the competition.
According to reports, the new SUV will be based on the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and sources say that the SUV which could be codenamed ‘YTB’ is being referred to as the ‘Sister Car’ of the Baleno. The platform sharing concept is not new to the brand and it will help keep the development cost low as well as save on time. The low investment strategy will allow the brand to gain back sales lost to other OEMs without spending a major chunk of money. This strategy will also make the recovery time shorter as the segment is volume-driven.
Besides the new compact SUV, Maruti Suzuki also plans to manufacture and launch the Jimny SUV in the Indian market that will rival other lifestyle SUVs in the segment, mainly the Mahindra Thar. The brand is also planning to introduce a new mid-size SUV to rival the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos in the Indian market. The new C-SUV will be developed in alliance with its partner Toyota and recent reports suggest that the brand is likely to produce the SUV at the TKMs Bidadi manufacturing facility from 2022.
The 4.3 metres long SUV is likely to be built using the DNGA (Daihatsu New-Generation Architecture) that has been specifically developed for the emerging markets. The platform is expected to be modified to accommodate the Maruti Suzuki K15B powertrain with mild-hybrid technology. The brand is also rumoured to have been developing a new BS6-compliant diesel engine for the Indian market.
