Maruti Suzuki Inspires Biggies

Global car manufacturers in India are looking at the Maruti Suzuki India for answers on brand positioning and marketing. They are planning a Swift-like strategy for their future launches in India. Being a small car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki initially launched the Swift hatch and later introduced the Swift D'Zire sedan. Other car manufacturers in India want to adopt the same policy for their upcoming products in India.

It has been learnt that Toyota, Volkswagen, Honda and Ford Motors are planning to introduced hatchbacks and sedan based on the same model. Toyota is readying itself for the launch of its small car Yaris in India in 2010. Now Toyota plans to come out with a sedan based on the same model in the subsequent year.

Sources say that Volkswagen Polo which is due to arrive by the end of this year will also have a sedan variant in the near future. The sedan will be in line with the luxury car models Passat and Jetta. Volkswagen India president and managing director Mr. Jorg Muller said that a sedan version will follow the hatchback. "However we will be careful to not over ride into the market share of Skoda which has a small car Fabia and premium sedans.", he said. Skoda Autos is a subsidiary of the German car manufacturer Volkswagen. India will be the only country to receive to bodystyles of the same model.

Honda Jazz is all set to come to India with a price tag of Rs 7 lakh onwards. Jazz is based on the Honda City platform. Another small car based on the same platform is also on the cards for next year.

Ford Motors plans to launch a small car for India very soon and wants to roll out the same model in seven variants.

These car manufacturers have noted that rolling out the same models in different bodystyles encourages cost cuttings and lowers time and money spend on developing new platforms everytime they plans a launch. Maruti Suzuki is ahead of global car player in the strategy.

Source: http://www.carazoo.com/newcars/carreview/Maruti_Suzuki/Swift_DZire