From a 5% share of Maruti Suzuki’s passenger vehicle sales in FY2015 to 31% in FY2025, the Nexa premium channel continues to play a vital role in the company’s fortunes in an increasingly competitive market. While the Baleno continues to be the No. 1 Nexa model, the Fronx has grabbed the No. 2 rank in barely two years since its launch.
11 Apr 2025 | 1498 Views | By Ajit Dalvi
Nexa, Maruti Suzuki India’s premium sales channel, which was launched on July 23, 2015, has till end-FY2025 sold a total of 3.12 million passenger vehicles, contributing 20% to Maruti Suzuki’s total passenger vehicle wholesales of 15 million units in the domestic market.
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Nexa, Maruti Suzuki India’s premium sales channel, which was launched on July 23, 2015, has till end-FY2025 sold a total of 3.12 million passenger vehicles, contributing 20% to Maruti Suzuki’s total passenger vehicle wholesales of 15 million units in the domestic market.
Nexa’s first model was the now-discontinued S-Cross, launched on August 5, 2015. The current Nexa model line-up comprises eight passenger vehicles – two hatchbacks (Baleno, Ignis), one sedan (Ciaz), four SUVs (Fronx, Grand Vitara, XL6 and Jimny) and one MPV (Invicto).
Nexa’s growth over the past decade is reflected in the nine models it has launched, some selling far more than others. From just two models (S-Cross and Baleno) in FY2016, the Nexa model range expanded to eight in FY2024 (Baleno, Ignis, Ciaz, XL6, Grand Vitara, Fronx, Jimny and Invicto), with one model (S-Cross) being discontinued in August 2022.
The snazzy Baleno hatchback is Nexa's best-seller by a huge margin over other models. Introduced in October 2015, the Baleno has sold 1.62 million units and accounts for 52% of all Nexa sales till end-FY2025. The Baleno's best-ever sales were in FY2019 (212,330 units). FY2023 sales (202,901 units) came close to that albeit FY2024 sales were down 3.59% on FY2023 at 195,607 units. FY2025’s 167,161 units are down 15% YoY but enough to see the Baleno maintain the No. 1 Nexa model status it has commanded since FY2016. The Fronx compact SUV though is close behind the Baleno in FY2025.
The Ignis hatchback, launched in January 2017, with cumulative sales of 304,200 units, has a 10% share of Nexa sales till date. Its best year was FY2023 (59,852 units). In FY2025, the Ignis’ sales of 27,438 units were down 15% YoY.
The Baleno-based Fronx compact SUV has grabbed Nexa No. 3 model rank with 300,951 units, sold within two years of its launch. Currently just 3,249 units behind the Ignis in cumulative sales, and witnessing much faster growth, the Fronx will vault into Nexa No. 2 position in April 2025 itself. Like the Ignis, the Fronx also has a 10% share of total Nexa sales.
Fourth on the Nexa ladder-board is the Grand Vitara midsize SUV. Launched in September 2022, the Grand Vitara has been one of Maruti Suzuki’s recent successes – the 296,430 units sold till FY2025 give it a 9.47% share of Nexa sales. However, compared to FY2024, sales have slowed down – in FY2025, the Grand Vitara sold 123,946 units, which is a marginal 2% YoY increase (FY2024: 121,169 units) and just 2,777 units more year on year.
The XL6, which is in its sixth year of sales, is the fifth highest Nexa sales model with 205,704 units and a 6.57% share. The XL6 posted its best-ever annual sales in FY2024: 45,131 units, but FY2025 numbers at 37,111 units were down 18% YoY.
The Jimny SUV, of which much was expected, is ranked seventh on the Nexa scale of sales. Launched in June 2023, the five-door model clocked sales of 25,749 units till end-FY2025, far less than what Maruti Suzuki had targeted. However, the Jimny has been a huge success on the export front in FY2025 and, along with the Fronx, has helped Maruti Suzuki retain the title of India’s No. 1 car and SUV exporter for the fourth fiscal in a row.
The ageing Ciaz sedan comes in at No. 7 with 192,410 units and a 6% share albeit sales have plunged over the years. From 58,913 units in FY2018 to just 8,402 units in FY2024, it’s been quite a climbdown for the Ciaz.
The youngest Nexa model is the Invicto MPV, launched in July 2023, aiming to tap the potential of over Rs-20-lakh vehicle category in India and a collaborative model from the Suzuki-Toyota global alliance. The Invicto has sold a total of 8,635 units till end-FY2025, comprising 4,599 units in FY2024 and 4,036 units in FY2025.
NEXA PORTFOLIO TO EXPAND SOON WITH MARUTI E VITARA
The first new Nexa model in two years is to be launched in FY2026 and it is an electric vehicle, which kicks off Maruti Suzuki’s EV journey. Slated to be launched in May 2025, the Maruti e Vitara is the production-spec version of the e-VX concept and gets two battery pack (49kWh and 61kWh) options.
While the entry level e Vitara will get a 144hp motor, the 61 kWh-equipped variant will have a 174hp motor. Maruti Suzuki claims an MIDC range of over 500km (with the 61kWh battery pack) for the e Vitara which targets the Hyundai Creta Electric, Tata Curvv EV and the Mahindra BE 6.
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