Friday, April 20, 2012
By Manoj Kumawat
For Maruti cars survival of the fittest is the funda
Maruti seems to demean its own products from time to time. The first victim of this suicidal spree was Maruti 800 that was launched in 1983 that was victimized by Maruti Alto after two decades. The same saga continues even today. Now that the Maruti Ertiga is in, there is little scope left for Maruti Eeco or Maruti Omni. However, there is a big price difference but by paying a little extra car buyers will certainly go for Ertiga. Similarly, it was Maruti Zen that ate a major share of Maruti 800 and then it was Maruti Alto that almost gulped the share of its predecessors. In the same fashion, Maruti has been introducing new cars at the cost of the already existing. The new Maruti Swift Dzire in the compact sedan segment is a striking example and is certainly a suicidal move for the Maruti Swift.
| See More Maruti 800 Photos | Get Maruti 800 Price |
Similarly, Maruti is planning a new car based on Maruti 800 and this car will, in all probability eat away the entire share of Maruti Alto. Another example is Maruti Wagon R that was launched in 1999 and started eating share of both Maruti Alto as well as Maruti 800. The result is that gradually the one that is not able to survive this competition has to die. The Maruti 800 will be the second victim after Maruti Zen that was replaced by Maruti Zen Estilo. In 2005, came Maruti Swift that created a new segment of its own and cannot be termed to have eaten anybody’s share. But, the Maruti Swift based sedan Dzire ate a lot of its pie. Two other models Maruti A-Star and Maruti Ritz are among those cars that did not affect any other sibling. Now that Maruti XA Alpha is on cards it is expected to eat away Maruti Gypsy and Maruti Grand Vitara.
| See More Maruti Alto Photos | Get Maruti Alto Price |
For Maruti it is as if you pitch in a new car and it will eat the share of its seniors. The trend is apparent since 1983 and it seems to continue forever for Maruti. A larger perspective though reveals that this is perhaps more so fate rather than a strategy as no car maker will ever wish one of its cars to dip sales of its other car. Akin to Maruti, there are loads of examples. Toyota launched Innova replacing the Toyota Qualis that was getting more than overwhelming response in India. Similarly, Hyundai launched Hyundai Eon as the entry level Hyundai car in India and now Hyundai Santro has to die an untimely death despite of its popularity. There are innumerable other examples as well.
