Gradual introduction of robust and fuel-efficient K-series engine in almost all its models has led to Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) breaking all sales record, month-after-month. While India's No.1 car-seller has not only crossed 1-lakh unit monthly sales mark, it has also succeeded in improving sales of models like Estilo that were so far lagging.
It was in 2008 when MSIL introduced its new K-series engine with the launch of its global compact car ‘A Star', being sold as Alto in other markets. Since then the carmaker has introduced this engine in almost all its other models that has led to surge in its sales across various models.
The all-aluminium, light-weight K-series not only gives better mileage — between 20.2 km in Alto K10 and 17.7 km per litre in Ritz — it is better on emissions and has improved NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) characteristics.
“We have seen sales of Estilo growing by over 25 per cent last fiscal, while the demand for WagonR has gone up by over 12 per cent, Swift by over 21 per cent and sedan DZire by almost 30 per cent. However, the most interesting case has been that of India's largest selling car Alto as its sales has gone up by a steep 50 per cent since the launch of K-series model — K10,” MSIL Chief General Manager (Marketing) Shashank Srivastava told this correspondent.
“Overall, K-series engine has strengthened the Maruti Suzuki portfolio. It delivers best-in-class fuel efficiency with very low emissions and is also low on maintenance, thus reducing the cost of ownership. As a result, K-series engine has become a major sales driver for Maruti Suzuki. Keeping in mind the popularity of our K-series engine, we are now planning to scale up the K-series engine manufacturing capacity,” Mr. Srivastava said.
Currently all three K-series engine plants of MSIL are operational at Gurgaon that produces almost 77,000 engines a month. Cumulatively, the K-series engine facility has reached the milestone of producing 8.5-lakh engines in just 29 months since its introduction in A Star in October 2008.
Mr. Srivastava further said that since K-series was introduced in Alto, which is not only India's but also the world's No.1 selling compact car, its sales has increased by over 50 per cent, averaging over 30,000 units a month. In March 2011, Alto's sales crossed 38,000 units. Before the introduction of Alto K10 (in August 2010), its sales averaged around 20,000 units a month.
In 2010-11, MSIL sold over 3.47-lakh units of Alto. Similarly, models such as Swift, DZire, Ritz and WagonR have benefited from the introduction of K-series engines, he added.
