Indian automaker Maruti Suzuki will launch four SUVs in next three years

Maruti Suzuki has confirmed to a business news outlet that it is putting in place a major SUV product offensive over the next three years. The country’s largest carmaker is set to launch four new SUVs, to add to its current line-up, over the next three years. Maruti hopes this will help it recover ground it has lost to rivals in this segment like Hyundai-Kia, Tata Motors and Mahindra.

Maruti Suzuki upcoming SUVs

Maruti Suzuki aims to cover the full mainstream SUV segments with these four products. The new model offensive will see a new offering in each of the popular SUV segments starting with the production version of the Futuro-E concept shown at Auto Expo 2020. This model, codenamed YTB, is expected to be a more stylish, coupe-ish alternative to the Vitara Brezza in the sub-four metre segment. It will be based on the Baleno and will compete at the premium end of the compact SUV market priced between Rs 8-12 lakh.

The next major offering, and possibly the most hotly anticipated one, is the Indian-spec Suzuki Jimny. The report suggests that Maruti Suzuki will bring the off-roader to India in its three-door as well as in a so-far unseen five-door variant. The Jimny will be positioned above the YTB to compete directly with the Thar and Gurkha and is rumoured to be priced between Rs 10 to 15 lakh. The two more premium offerings to sit above these two will be co-developed with Toyota. These will be a two-row mid-size SUV of 4.2m length to rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta and MG Astor, codenamed the YFG. A longer 4.4m SUV, possibly an extended version of the YFG will cover the top of SUV segment, competing against the likes of the Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV700. These SUVs will not see any diesel options, with a mix of petrol, mild-hybrid and CNG powertrains to be used to power them.

Maruti Suzuki upcoming SUVs strategy, pricing

With the SUVs being sold in conjunction with Maruti Suzuki’s current UV offerings, Maruti Suzuki expects to sell 5 lakh more units on the back of these new models over the net 3 years. The company aims to have an offering at every Rs 50,000 interval in the Rs 10 to 20 lakh price range with its new range. Models like the Ignis, Vitara Brezza and Ertiga will continue to sell as part of this strategy and if the recent leaks suggest anything, all of these cars will also see heavy updates to bring in lost sales.