The company's upcoming lineup will feature more SUVs and a wave of electric vehicles (EVs).
05 Feb 2024 | 12709 Views | By Ketan Thakkar
Following what was one of the most aggressive product offensives by Maruti Suzuki in the last few years, the carmaker is gearing up for an even more audacious goal with what it calls Vision 3.0. The plan envisages Maruti Suzuki doubling production capacity to four million units and tripling exports ...
This is an Autocar Pro Plus article. Subscribe to continue reading.
Following what was one of the most aggressive product offensives by Maruti Suzuki in the last few years, the carmaker is gearing up for an even more audacious goal with what it calls Vision 3.0. The plan envisages Maruti Suzuki doubling production capacity to four million units and tripling exports from India in the next eight years, but crucially, by the end of the decade, it intends to expand the number of models in its portfolio from 17 to 28. There are as many as eight new models headed our way in the next three to four years. The 28-model portfolio is likely to sport half a dozen different powertrains from EVs to hybrids, petrol, CNG, flex-fuel and ethanol-powered cars. Here’s what’s store.
For the next-gen hatch and compact sedan siblings, Maruti plans to bring the Swift before the Dzire. Insiders at Maruti tell us that the company thinks the Swift brand value needs to be re-established as a sporty hatch for the masses, just like the first-gen car from 2005. The new Swift sports an evolutionary design with familiar interiors, however, the Dzire will sport more upmarket looks with added chrome and lighter interior shades. Both models will get more features as well, along with the new Z-series 1.2-litre petrol engine.
A three-row version of the Grand Vitara (codenamed Y17) is in the works too, and it will be the first Maruti to roll out from the new Kharkhoda plant. Expected to get a petrol, a Toyota hybrid and CNG powertrains upon launch, this new SUV will also be built for Toyota by Maruti and will be priced on the lines of the XUV700, Alcazar and Safari.
The sub-four-metre SUV market has crossed a million-unit mark and Maruti wants to cash in even more with an all-new Punch rival that will sit below the Brezza, making it the fourth SUV after the Jimny, Brezza and the Fronx in the compact SUV segment. The Y43 is expected around October 2026 and may sit alongside the Ignis in the Indian market. So far, Maruti is relying on SUV-like models in the lower segment like the S-Presso and Ignis to appeal to budget SUV buyers. This new model will get proper SUV styling like the Punch and Exter in order to win over customers.
An all-new compact MPV (codenamed YDB) is being readied for a debut sometime in 2026. Likely to be called the Spacia, a Japanese K-car on which it is based, a stretched version is expected and could rival the Triber as a compact people mover. The Japanese Spacia has sliding doors but we are not sure if cost targets will allow this feature to be carried over to the Indian YDB. Expect a cleverly designed three-row cabin in a compact footprint along with a decent features list fit for the Nexa brand.
Maruti will make its EV debut with a midsize electric SUV, which will go up against the Creta but unlike the Hyundai, this will be a born EV built on a bespoke electric platform. The eVX is expected with a five-seat layout and will be built alongside its Toyota derivative that will go on sale a little later. Two battery pack options with a maximum range of around 550km are expected. The eVX will also be exported to markets like Japan and Europe in the future. This SUV, alongside its Toyota sibling, will be built at Suzuki Motor Gujarat’s (SMG) Hansalpur facility, located 90km from Ahmedabad.
The born-EV architecture, jointly developed by Toyota, will spawn multiple body styles and along with the eVX, an all-new MPV is under development too. This will be Maruti’s first electric MPV and is due for launch in September 2026. Expect a lot of component-sharing with the eVX, including the EV powertrain and battery options.
Maruti is developing a low-cost EV on a bespoke electric platform (K-EV). The first model is likely to be an all-new EV based on the eWX concept showcased at the Japan Mobility Show. This model is still some time away and not expected before 2026-’27. To meet aggressive cost targets, Maruti Suzuki is heavily localising the K-EV platform, including the battery packs and cells to ensure that the company is able to offer a competitive price to challenge EV market leader Tata Motors.