Maruti Suzuki Dzire 2024 New Delhi: Country’s largest carmaker by volume, Maruti Suzuki, has invested around INR 1,000 crore on the development and production of the new Dzire compact sedan, said the company’s MD and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi.
Speaking at the launch of the 4th-gen model on Monday, he noted that this launch is significant because “although the SUV segment has been growing, other segments are equally important” to sustain a high market share.
Interestingly, the new model is launched for the personal buyers only. Maruti Suzuki, which derives a significant portion of about 30%- 35% Dzire sales from the fleet segment, has strategised to continue to sell the existing 3rd-gen Tour S for commercial purposes.
Launched at an introductory price of INR 6.79 lakh, which can go up to INR 10.14 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom), the model is also available on a subscription scheme. Introductory prices are valid till December 31, 2024.
The new Dzire comes with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder Z Series engine, with petrol and CNG fuel options. It is the first Maruti Suzuki model to score a 5-star GNCAP rating. The entry-level sedan offers features like the electric sunroof, 360-degree camera, and six airbags.
During FY 2023-24, the carmaker sold 1.64 lakh units of Dzire. This translates to about 1.06 lakh sales for the private buyers and about 57,000 units for the taxi segment.
For the first nine months of the ongoing fiscal year, Dzire sales have dropped subsequently. Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer- Marketing and Sales at the company noted that the target for the next FY 2025-26 is to cross the 1.64 lakh sales mark of the previous year. “We aim to increase our pie in the sedan segment.”
Maruti Suzuki first debuted the Dzire in 2008, when it was called the Swift Dzire. The 2nd-gen model followed in 2012 and 3rd-gen in 2017.
Sedan sales in India
Over the past many years, the market for sedans in India has witnessed a steep decline due to a significant rise in the consumer demand for SUVs. Of all the passenger vehicles sold in the country last year, sedans accounted for just about 8% share, as against a little over 50% for SUVs.
Sharing his outlook for the segment in the country, Banerjee said, “Taking a long-term perspective of 2030, we feel that the passenger vehicle market will be around 60 lakh units and sedans will still have a reasonable pie of about 10%.”
Maruti Suzuki wants to garner a 50% share of this 10% (6 lakh units) segment and sees itself clocking annual sales of about 3 lakh units of sedans by 2030.
In the entry-level sedan category, the carmaker currently takes the leadership position with about 61% share. Competing with the company’s Dzire are the likes of Honda Amaze, Tata Tigor and Hyundai Aura. Honda is also coming up with its new-gen Amaze next month.
The new Dzire will also contribute in fueling Maruti Suzuki’s target of clocking 3 lakh export sales in FY 2024-25. The new model, with its GNCAP rating, will be sold in Latin American and Middle Eastern markets.
