Seems like Maruti Suzuki have managed to crack the luxury car code with their Kizashi D-segment car in India. The company has registered 400 pre-bookings for the car, making the prospective customers wait for as long as 3 months before they get the keys handed over to them. Deliveries for the car will start from March 10th.
The company is happy with the public interest in Kizashi, which without doubt exceeds the expectations. It’s notable that the earlier forays into big car segments by Maruti Suzuki have not met with much success. The Grand Vitara, both in its first and second innings was not a success. The Kizashi, though sounding like a success right now, may feel the heat in the long run, as Maruti Suzuki lacks a diesel option – an area where VW Group companies rule the roost with their advanced diesel mills.
Maruti Suzuki has now ordered a second shipment of 350 more CBUs of the D-segment car, and can order as many more units as required from Sagara, Japan, where the car is manufactured.
Maruti Suzuki had earlier said that the company would think about assembling the car locally in India if the volumes permit. We would say that 400 units a month doesn’t look like a bad number at all. Does that mean MSIL will assemble the car in India in the near future? And if ever that happens, would it pass the massive cost benefit to the customers? And if that ever happens, what would it have to say to the enthusiastic buyers who are emptying their pockets to drive home this Suzuki?
What do you think would be the right strategy for the Japanese brand? Do let us know through your invaluable comments.