Maruti Baleno Production Ramps up, Waiting Period To Go Down

Maruti Suzuki has finally decided to ramp-up the production of its hot-selling premium hatch, the Baleno. Soaring demands and constant rise in waiting periods compelled the automaker to increase the car’s production.

R S Kalsi, executive director, marketing and sales, MSIL, said, "We have wonderful products in our portfolio like the Baleno, the S-Cross and the Vitara Brezza which are doing very well in the market. Waiting period is also there [for these vehicles].

"We are making all possible efforts to de-bottleneck the lines and enhance production [of the Baleno]," he added.

Launched in October last year, the Baleno comes with a waiting period of six to eight months and has close to 45,000 outstanding bookings. The same is the case with the Vitara Brezza.

Earlier, the carmaker had doubled the production of the Baleno to 12,000 units a month. However, it’s not only about the local demand of the Baleno. Even abroad, the car is gaining immense popularity, which in turn has increased its waiting period within the domestic market.

When questioned regarding the time required to ramp-up the production, Kalsi said, "It is not only Maruti Suzuki alone. There are close to 250 [company] vendors in the supply chain. They also need to ramp-up their production, investments and capacities. So, it takes time. Towards the second part of the year, we would be able to increase the volume."

In the meantime, Suzuki’s Gujarat facility is about to be completed and is expected to be up by January-March quarter next year. This plant will provide components and parts exclusively to MSIL.

Kalsi stated, "Products to be manufactured in that plant are yet to be decided. We are working with our manufacturing and engineering teams."

India’s largest carmaker also plans to increase the number of Nexa outlets to 250 by the end of this financial year from the current 127.

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