Maruti Suzuki rolls out low-priced family car 'Eeco'

In the face of growing competition in the low-priced small car segment in the country, Maruti Suzuki, on Thursday, launched its family car Eeco –– aimed at targeting the low middle income group, priced at around Rs 2.59 lakh.

“Eeco is a multi-purpose family car specifically designed for India by our own engineers and has  It has been priced very competitively,” Maruti Suzuki Managing Director and CEO Shinzo Nakanishi said.

The Eeco –– fitted with 1200 cc engine –– is a five-door C-segment car, he said adding “Maruti Suzuki engineers have specially developed the Eeco, its new powerful engine and a new transmission system to meet the diverse consumer aspirations that look for a vehicle that fit a large family and at the same time provides flexibility for dual use.” Eeco is the fourth model from the Maruti stable that meet the stringent BSIV norms well ahead of the April 2010 deadline, Nakanishi said.

Although the firm launched this in a bid to counter growing competition, auto analysts said that Eeco is a replacement model for Versa, which failed to generate enough sales in the Indian market.