Maruti to launch 5 CNG cars in Aug

In an unprecedented move to defend market share, the country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India will launch five cars in CNG version in a single day in the second week of next month.

The company, whose market share has come down below 50 per cent in the quarter ended June for the first time in its history, will unleash factory-fitted CNG options of its best selling Alto, compact cars Estilo and WagonR, multi-purpose vehicle Eeco and mid-sized sedan SX4.

"The CNG models will be very important in our portfolio. We are the first company to come out with factory-fitted CNG cars and we will have the first mover's advantage in the market," MSI chief general manager (marketing) Shashank Srivastava told reporters in New Delhi.

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In the April-June quarter, MSI's market share fell to 47.59 per cent from earlier over 55 per cent in the 15 lakh (1.5 million) units per year domestic car segment. It had sold 206,377 units during the quarter in a total market of 433,641 units.

The company has decided to launch all the five versions on a single day in the second week of August because there is no particular segment for CNG cars unlike other models, which can be specified into different strata, Srivastava said.

"It is the launch of a technology, not the cars. It is the concept of factory-fitted CNG models," he added.

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Besides, MSI will launch two new versions of its small car Alto on August 4 with a 1.0 litre K-series engine.

The Alto is the best selling car model in India averaging over 20,000 units per month. The company has sold nearly 14 lakh (1.4 million) units since its launch in September 2000.

"We are expecting about 25 per cent increase in Alto's sales after the launch of the new variant -- AltoK10," Srivastava said, adding the first time buyers are gradually going for more sophisticated and feature-oriented models.

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In April, MSI had introduced BS IV compliant Alto on the existing 800cc F Series engine and this model will continue.

When asked about the possible price of the new Alto, he said: "There is a huge gap between the top model of existing Alto and the base version of Estilo. The base variant of AltoK10 may be priced between this range."

The existing Alto is priced between Rs 229,000 and Rs 281,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), while the Estilo starts at Rs 320,000 and goes up to Rs 410,000.

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AltoK10 will have a mileage of 20.2 kilometer per litre as per Automotive Research Association of India standards.

The company currently offers retro-fitted CNG versions in Alto. Besides, it also offers dual fuel mode in M800 and Omni, which are available in LPG-cum-petrol variants also.

Earlier WagonR was also coming with a LPG variant, but MSI stopped producing it after launching the new WagonR.