The country’s leading car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki is planning to develop an A-Star sedan that is aligned to place between the new sub-four meter DZire and its mid-sized SX4 sedan to tap the rapidly expanding sedan segment. Sources indicate that Maruti Suzuki is planning to introduce A-star sedan on the domestic shores by 2013.
There is a buzz that the company will initially export this new sedan to European markets. It is still not cleared, if the A-star sedan would be sold in collaboration with Nissan Motors or the new Suzuki partner, Volkswagen. It is predicted that with a joint venture, the A-star sedan will have a better outcome in the international markets. Well, this can certainly be the company’s new strategy to enhance its segments.
The A-Star sedan will be built on keeping fuel-efficient and compact car in mind that to fit with Europe’s government future market focus. The company must be targeting to grab such sedan enthusiasts by offering the A-star sedan at a nominal price tag. On the other hand, many of the automobile critics are calling A-star sedan an unintelligent move from the company as the car would look shabby with an added boot.
Currently, Maruti Suzuki is a big player with majority shares in the ruling sub 10 lakh rupee bracket of the Indian car market. According to the auto experts, the 2012 version of Swift Dzire has a shrunken boot and SX4 has a full boot, so the sedan in between these too is expected to sport a full boot with prices less than the SX4.
The company strategies of creating new sub-categories within segments to explore new possibilities to increase its market share. For e.g. in the hatchback segment Maruti Suzuki offers 4 cars in the price bracket of Rs. 2.5 – 4.5 lakh which are Maruti Alto K10, Maruti Wagon R, Maruti A-Star and Maruti Estilo so the customer ends up shopping within the brand.
Also see – Maruti Suzuki’s “20 new cars in 5 years”
2012 Auto Expo – Maruti Suzuki A-Star Cabriolet convertible unveiled
Image Credit – Team-BHP
