Maruti unveils SUV XA Alpha at Auto Expo, New Delhi
05 Jan 2012
The 11th Auto Expo kicked off in New Delhi today with India's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki unveiling its compact SUV XA Alpha as it looks to enter newer segments.
India is well on course to emerge as one of the top automobile economies of the world, powered by the middle class on continued government support, says Maruti Suzuki managing director and CEO Shinzo Nakanishi.
He added that the Indian customers would become more and more sophisticated and Maruti would continue to expand the range of its popular K-series engine, and offer diesel vehicles, apart from launching new products.
"The choice of automobile will be dictated more and more by the way of life of customers. We will launch new products and create new categories to their choice," he said.
Nakanishi said the SUV segment accounted for 14 per cent of the total automobile market in India and since the company lacked a presence in the segment, it needed one to retain its leadership position.
According to Nakanishi, the slowdown was short-term and temporary and Maruti network and capacity are designed for long term.
