Maruti Suzuki launches New Age Baleno, hints at another price hike

• The pricing starts at Rs 6.35 lakh, going up to Rs 9.49 lakh for the ‘Alpha AGS’ one.

NE BUSINESS BUREAU

AHMEDABAD, FEB 23

Market leader Maruti Suzuki India Limited on Wednesday announced the global premier of its much-awaited technologically superior premium hatchback – the New Age Baleno. The company also hinted it may hike prices of its top models further.

Equipped with a host of class leading technology, safety, comfort & convenience features and NEXA’s new signature Crafted Futurism design language, the New Age Baleno will provide an unparalleled driving experience to customers.

Introducing the New Age Baleno to the world, Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “Baleno is amongst the top five best-selling cars in the industry since launch. Over 1 million delighted Baleno customers in India and across 100+ countries of the world have appreciated it for design and performance. The New Age Baleno is our new approach towards the future. With focus on technology and innovation, the New Age Baleno is set to re-energise the premium hatchback segment with several first-in- segment features. The new age technology and features along with fresh look, premium interiors and special focus on safety will take the customer experience to a new high.”

He further added,“Withoursuppliers,MarutiSuzukihasinvestedoverRs1,150Croresonthisfullmodelchange. We are confident that the New Age Baleno will continue to win more hearts and scale even greaterheights.”

“The impact is very high,” said Kenichi Ayukawa, managing director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki, about the increasing cost to the company on components and raw materials.

Maruti has been buffeted by an acute shortage of semiconductors as well as spiralling input costs over the past year. The company had hiked prices three times over the last year — by 1.4 percent in January, 1.6 percent in April and 1.9 percent in September, to a cumulative nearly 5 per cent.

Perhaps, it is time for another round now. “We are facing big pressure as far as commodities go,” said Shashank Srivastava, senior executive director (marketing and sales), Maruti Suzuki.

“We were hoping to soften [the blow]. Going forward, we will take appropriate decisions,” he added.

Ayukawa and Srivastava were talking to the media after the global launch of the company’s ‘New age’ Baleno—a new variant of the million-selling premium compact model of the automaker originally launched back in 2015. The new age model sports a new K 12 engine and design tweaks, but the most dramatic addition is that of internet features, including a customisable advanced voice assist feature, as well as remote access, tracking, geo-fencing, trip analysis facilities as well as a hydraulic clutch.

The new age Baleno already has more than 25,000 bookings, according to Srivastava, and deliveries have already started.

The pricing starts at Rs 6.35 lakh, going up to Rs 9.49 lakh for the ‘Alpha AGS’ one. The car is also available under Maruti’s subscription model, with plans starting at Rs 13,999 per month.

Yet, it remains to be seen how long these prices will remain, before the impending hike. The hardening of commodity prices, shortage of chips and increase in shipping tariffs, all part of the global supply chain mismatch scene after Covid-19, has caused price hikes for many top Indian automobile brands, both two as well as four-wheelers.

New Age Baleno Prices (Ex Showroom in INR)