Maruti Suzuki WagonR, Alto, Swift & more to get expensive by 2023: Here’s why

In a recent development, it has been confirmed that the Maruti Suzuki will increase the price of its model line-up. The carmaker has confirmed that to offset the increasing input costs and to calibrate the models for the new emission norms, which will kick in from April, the company will have to hike the prices of its cars substantially. The largest carmaker in the country said the increasing raw material cost and overall inflation is forcing it to increase the prices of the model. However, the company has not revealed the exact quantum of the increase, which will prevail across its model lineup.

In an interaction with PTI, Maruti Suzuki India Senior Executive Officer Marketing & Sales Shashank Srivastava said that commodity prices still remain on the higher side if compared with two years ago.

“Besides there is general inflationary pressure on every input cost whether it is energy or material or manpower cost. Then there is a requirement to conform to regulatory requirements,” he said.

The company needs to make models ready for the second phase of BS-VI emission norms that kick in from April next year.

“We will have to start making changes in the product range. Also, the price increase taken earlier was not sufficient to cover the increase in commodity prices,” Srivastava noted.

Vehicles will need to have an on-board self-diagnostic device to monitor the real-time driving emission levels. The device will constantly monitor key parts for meeting emission standards such as the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors, to keep a close watch on emissions.

In a scenario wherein the emissions exceed the parameters, the device will indicate through warning lights that the vehicle be submitted for a service.

Additionally, in order to control the level of fuel burnt, the vehicles will also carry programmed fuel injectors, which would control the timing and amount of fuel injected into the petrol engine.

Even the semiconductors used by the vehicle will have to be upgraded to monitor throttle, crankshaft positions, air intake pressure, temperature of the engine and the contents of the emissions from the exhaust (particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, CO2, Sulphur), etc.

Maruti Suzuki had earlier increased vehicle prices by around 1.3 per cent in April this year. When asked about the quantum of price increase the company planned to take next month, Srivastava said the company is in the process of finalizing it.

“To cover all these factors, the price hike has to be substantial," he noted.

In a separate filing to bourses, the company said its production in November rose by 5 per cent to 1,52,786 units as compared with 1,45,560 units in the same month last year. The company rolled out 1,51,326 passenger vehicles last month as against 1,42,025 units in November 2021.

With inputs from PTI