Maruti Suzuki hikes prices of most car models

While the average increase in prices is of around 0.6 per cent, it varies from 0.12 per cent for the Ritz VDi at the lower end to 1.9 per cent for the Dzire LXi models, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a statement, but did not share the hike in rupee terms. However, the hike would range between a few hundred rupees to as high as Rs 10,000 per car, as per the current on-road prices of various models.

However, the company’s recently launched multi purpose vehicle Eeco, and the petrol variant of the small car Swift and its Gypsy models will not be affected by the price hike.
“The price increase is to partly recover the increase in the input costs arising out of raw material costs over the past one year. For some models the increase in the costs are being absorbed by the company,” the company said.

It also said that the introductory prices for its refreshed Estilo, which was introduced in August last year, has been withdrawn. Estilo will now be expensive by Rs 1,243- Rs 2,486 depending on the variants.

MSI’s decision to hike prices comes after similar measures by other auto makers, including Honda Siel Cars India and luxury carmaker BMW, in the past one month.  MSI also said that the petrol variants of the Swift and the Swift Dzire will now be equipped with Bharat Stage (BS) IV norms compliant 1.2 litre K-series engines.

The K12 petrol engine on these variants delivers a fuel efficiency of 17.9 kilometre per litre, as against 15.9 kilometre per litre in the old engines. “The Diesel variants of Swift and Swift Dzire are also upgraded to meet the BS-IV norms,” it said, without giving further details.