The Maruti Suzuki Alto has emerged as the most selling vehicle for 13th consecutive year. In 2016-17, the company registered sales of over 2.41 lakh units of the Alto. In 2016-17, the Alto contributed to about 17% of total domestic sales of 1,443,641 units for Maruti Suzuki. According to Maruti Suzuki, the Alto alone sells more than the total volumes sold in a year by several other passenger car makers individually in India.
Maruti Suzuki first launched the Alto in the Indian market in September 2000. In the past nearly 17 years of existence, the company has brought several updates to the car. In the first three years of Alto’s launch, it clocked cumulative sales of 1 lakh units. During 2016-17, Maruti Suzuki exported over 21,000 units of Alto to markets such as Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines, and Uruguay.
Maruti Suzuki has also upgraded Alto with new features to meet the expectations of its buyers. Today, the hatchback comes with a new exterior design, refreshed interiors and powertrain. It comes with two engine options – 800 cc and K10 – and a CNG fuel variant. The Alto K10 is offered with the clutch-less Auto Gear Shift Transmission (AGS) technology. AGS makes driving comfortable in heavy city traffic conditions, without compromising on fuel efficiency. According to the Maruti Suzuki, the Alto is high on safety as it is the only brand in its segment to offer driver airbag as an option from base variant onwards.
Speaking on the occasion, RS Kalsi, Executive Director (M&S) at Maruti Suzuki, said that the Alto is the No.1 best-selling brand for 13 consecutive years. This unique distinction is a reflection of Alto’s popularity. He is delighted that Alto once again dominates the car industry in 2016-17.
When asked on what keeps driving Alto’s sales even after more than a decade of its launch, Kalsi said, “Maruti Suzuki’s unmatched nationwide service network, guaranteed performance and lower maintenance cost, Alto is a natural choice of the customers across India. We are thankful to all our customers for their continued support to Brand Alto. Alto K10 with AGS is the most affordable two pedal technology in the entry segment.”