As the first car for many families, it has sold more than 45 lakh units and was the best-selling car in the country for over 15 years.
Let’s find out how Maruti Alto is gradually losing its presence in the Indian car market and if this marks the end of the road for the model.
Demand for Safer Cars in IndiaThe market trend is moving towards safer cars and compact SUVs, leading to a significant decrease in the demand for entry-level hatchbacks.
The Maruti Alto offers a 7-inch touchscreen on its top-end models, but the overall design of the cabin feels basic and dated.
Although the price difference on paper is Rs 1 lakh, the EMI makes it easier to afford a bigger car.
Maruti Suzuki Alto has been a household name in the Indian market for over two decades. As the first car for many families, it has sold more than 45 lakh units and was the best-selling car in the country for over 15 years. However, today, as the SUV craze grips the country, sales of the Alto have diminished. The once-popular model is now finding it difficult to secure a place even in the top 25. Let’s find out how Maruti Alto is gradually losing its presence in the Indian car market and if this marks the end of the road for the model.
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Demand for Safer Cars in India
The market trend is moving towards safer cars and compact SUVs, leading to a significant decrease in the demand for entry-level hatchbacks. While other manufacturers are updating their models with improved safety equipment, Maruti is falling behind. Currently, the Maruti Swift is the only model in the brand’s lineup that offers 6 airbags as standard.
Furthermore, adding 6 airbags to a model like the Alto comes with significantly high engineering costs. In addition to airbags, the chassis would need to be updated to handle increased loading and impact. While these changes would undoubtedly enhance the safety of the model, they would also drive up costs, ultimately undermining the value proposition of the Alto.
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Lack of Features
In 2024, consumers are drawn to cars for their extensive list of features. Buyers are willing to pay extra to include key features such as a large touchscreen, sunroof, wireless charger, cruise control, and more.
The Maruti Alto offers a 7-inch touchscreen on its top-end models, but the overall design of the cabin feels basic and dated. For a little more money, customers can opt for feature-rich cars like the Maruti Swift, Hyundai i20, or the Tata Punch. This makes it challenging to recommend the new Maruti Alto to anyone.
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EMI has made it easy
The main reason for the low sales of small cars is the availability of flexible loan options. Let’s compare an entry-level hatchback (Maruti WagonR) and a micro SUV (Tata Punch). The base model of both cars costs Rs 6.49 lakh and Rs 7.27 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). Although the price difference on paper is Rs 1 lakh, the EMI makes it easier to afford a bigger car. For the base variant of the WagonR, the EMI is Rs 10,600, while the Punch would cost Rs 11,700 monthly. For just an additional premium of Rs 1000, you can get a more comfortable, safer, and feature-loaded car instead of an entry-level hatchback.
Given these reasons, it’s reasonable to assume that the days of the Maruti Suzuki Alto in the Indian market are limited. Can Maruti miraculously save the Alto from extinction? Only time will tell.
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