[dZired]

Thank you to the Team-BHP fan (he prefers to remain anonymous) who sent this information in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts!

Maruti Suzuki is working on a new-gen Dzire, which will likely be launched by April-end or May 2017 (related thread). As per information available, Maruti has sent out an internal message to company officials, instructing them to liquidate all stocks of the current-gen Dzire as well as Dzire Tour. Dzire Tour is the earlier-gen model that is currently being sold exclusively in the commercial vehicle segment.

It was earlier reported that once the new-gen Dzire is launched, Maruti will discontinue the current Dzire Tour. New information surfaced further verifies this and also mentions that post the third-gen model's launch, the current sub- 4m Dzire will be sold under the Dzire Tour moniker, exclusively for the commercial vehicle segment.

Information available further indicates that Maruti has rolled out proposals for commercial vehicle dealerships to all its existing dealers. These new dealerships will likely be responsible for selling the Dzire Tour and the Super Carry LCV, along with Maruti's future offerings in the CV market. The new commercial vehicle dealerships will be built on low investment models. Location requirements for these dealerships include 500-1000 sq. ft. of total area with a 20 ft. frontage. Maruti is targeting localities around transport nagars / hubs of all cities for its CV dealerships.

EDIT on 4th Feb 2017:

The final call has yet to be taken in the company, i.e. whether the new Tour will be sub-4 meter or continue to be the old Tour with cosmetic changes viz body coloured bumpers, door handles, fog lamps, wheel caps, front power windows etc.

However, the new Dzire is slated for April. Confirmed.

Dealers across India have been asked to clear stocks of Dzire and Tour by March end.

Link to Team-BHP News

[Vinodh_Gowda]

Originally Posted by dZired

Information available further indicates that Maruti has rolled out proposals for commercial vehicle dealerships to all its existing dealers. These new dealerships will likely be responsible for selling the Dzire Tour and the Super Carry LCV, along with Maruti's future offerings in the CV market. The new commercial vehicle dealerships will be built on low investment models. Location requirements for these dealerships include 500-1000 sq. ft. of total area with a 20 ft. frontage. Maruti is targeting localities around transport nagars / hubs of all cities for its CV dealerships.

1. Maruti-Suzuki Main dealerships,
2. Maruti-Suzuki Nexa dealerships,
3. Maruti-Suzuki CV dealerships ---> How many more divisions to follow?

Also, how is putting the DZire tour to CV dealership going to help? People will anyways buy the newer Dzires for yellow board operations. Going forward, when a new Ciaz is launched, the older version will be sold in the CV dealerships! (I see allot of yellow board Ciaz around)

Toyota's plan is far better - discontinue the version whatever be the demand and have a single newer version to concentrate on completely. (Remember Qualis to Innova to Innova Crysta). Hence, better for Maruti-Suzuki to just let the older models be discontinued completely and provide only the lower variants for CV market. MS might be milking their older iterations now but then they have to stop with such strategies if they have to command respect in the above 15 lakh category.

[RSR]

Having separate yellow-board vehicle showrooms is a good idea and frankly, the only sensible choice for Maruti Suzuki!

In addition to the Super Carry and DZire Tour, the commercial showrooms can sell the Omni Cargo and Eeco Flexi panel vans, apart from future "taxi-special" cars.

It's good that they're adopting a small (low investment) showroom format for such dealerships. All they need is parking space for two or three vehicles inside the showroom and a few tables & chairs. The spread and strategic presence (location wise) of such showrooms contribute far, far more to (yellow-board) vehicle sales than their size or splendour.

[GeneralJazz]

Originally Posted by Vinodh_Gowda

Toyota's plan is far better - discontinue the version whatever be the demand and have a single newer version to concentrate on completely. (Remember Qualis to Innova to Innova Crysta). Hence, better for Maruti-Suzuki to just let the older models be discontinued completely and provide only the lower variants for CV market. MS might be milking their older iterations now but then they have to stop with such strategies if they have to command respect in the above 15 lakh category.

MS doesnt have anything in the 15+ lakh category. Going the Toyota way is one approach, but why willingly stop a source of income? If people are willing to buy their older models, nothing's stopping MS from manufacturing them as long unless the demand is so low that it loses feasibility.

But I do get your point. With so many expensive models being sold as taxis, they do lose their exclusivity. Plenty of Ciazs, Lineas, Arias etc. on the road now. For "premium" manufacturers, this could hit their "premium" image. For MS, its just more $$$.

[blackwasp]

Not just separate CV showrooms, but in a little while we can expect separate True Value showroom as well. What initially started as a tool to aid the new car sales is now growing at a pace far faster than new car sales. So, the cars that customers exchange for new Maruti cars will be sold from these True Value outlets.


Having separate but purpose defined showrooms will help give correct service to a customer.

[volkman10]

Originally Posted by GeneralJazz

MS doesnt have anything in the 15+ lakh category.

The Global Vitara and Grand Vitara are in the pipeline as of now in Suzuki's portfolio. Will be dominated by SUV's and Crossovers in their future line up!

[Zappo]

Originally Posted by blackwasp

Not just separate CV showrooms, but in a little while we can expect separate True Value showroom as well. What initially started as a tool to aid the new car sales is now growing at a pace far faster than new car sales. So, the cars that customers exchange for new Maruti cars will be sold from these True Value outlets.


Having separate but purpose defined showrooms will help give correct service to a customer.

Unless, I missed something here, this exists for a long, long time now. I have at least 2 dedicated True Value showrooms within 5 km radius of my house. In fact one of them is a giant sized operation!

[Carma2017]

Originally Posted by volkman10

The Global Vitara and Grand Vitara are in the pipeline as of now in Suzuki's portfolio. Will be dominated by SUV's and Crossovers in their future line up!

I don't think the Global Vitara has anything extra compared to the Brezza. I am discounting Allgrip 4WD. So, there is little or no hope of it ever coming to India. What Maruti is definitely interested in is a 7 seater.When Suzuki adds this to their Global portfolio, only then will something happen on India front.

[ramgkulkarni]

Originally Posted by Vinodh_Gowda

1. Maruti-Suzuki Main dealerships,
2. Maruti-Suzuki Nexa dealerships,
3. Maruti-Suzuki CV dealerships ---> How many more divisions to follow?

Actually the strategy is quite logical looking at sales that dzire generates. Dzire was one of the highest selling MS car for 2014 and 2015. It did manage very good numbers in 2016 as well.

Also this ensures spare part availability because the car is still in production even if it is only for CV purposes.

Splitting the dealership roles also help manage quality control. NEXA with "above average" cars(certainly not luxury material). Main dealerships for bread and butter sales and CV for the bare bone cars with very limited margin.

[Vinodh_Gowda]

Originally Posted by ramgkulkarni

Actually the strategy is quite logical looking at sales that dzire generates. Dzire was one of the highest selling MS car for 2014 and 2015. It did manage very good numbers in 2016 as well.

Also this ensures spare part availability because the car is still in production even if it is only for CV purposes.

Splitting the dealership roles also help manage quality control. NEXA with "above average" cars(certainly not luxury material). Main dealerships for bread and butter sales and CV for the bare bone cars with very limited margin.

The argument makes sense but then I still am against keeping an older model even if it's being moved to CV dealerships. Think of this, the main Dzire model now will be after years sent to CV dealership - Not a nice situation for the car owner. It's like MS telling it's buyers - 'Look this is the next CV!'. Also, there's no mention of ensuring that the new Dzire won't be made available for the CV market (Toyota did so with it's new Etios). These kind of strategies can have an adverse effect on NEXA as well. Most I know (me included) feel NEXA is just another MS showroom. If MS has to crack the premium , more expensive segments - it has to stop falling prey for short term gains.

[ramgkulkarni]

Originally Posted by Vinodh_Gowda

I Most I know (me included) feel NEXA is just another MS showroom. If MS has to crack the premium , more expensive segments - it has to stop falling prey for short term gains.

Totally agree with you on this one.

NEXA is trying to break the bread and butter image of Maruti but really hasn't poured in the good stuff to really click. I agree that S-Cross is a hoot to drive with the 1.6 engine but boy does it looked aged(no offence to any owners).

[SmartCat]

The only reason why Maruti has so many showroom formats is because they have something like 15 models. There is only so much display space a dealership has at various locations. Also, many of these models have petrol MT, diesel MT and petrol AT variants. Each of these variants need to be kept in the dealership since there will be test-drive requests from customers.

So having two or three showroom formats effectively sorts out a serious logistics problem. It has just been sugar-coated as some kind of marketing strategy.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Vinodh_Gowda

1. Maruti-Suzuki Main dealerships,
2. Maruti-Suzuki Nexa dealerships,
3. Maruti-Suzuki CV dealerships ---> How many more divisions to follow?

We all missed the point of Nexa. Everyone thought it was for a 'premium' experience. That's all bull. The purpose of Nexa was:

1. Spread the network. You can't open a new 'Maruti' showroom right next to an existing 'Maruti' showroom. But you can create a 'Nexa'. It was a brilliant move.

2. The same showroom will be overburdened with selling so many models. A dedicated channel helps. Nexa is up 200 showrooms already. That's more than some brands that have spent 10 years in India.

Some parts of this reasoning apply to commercial vehicles too. In addition, selling to a CV buyer is an entirely different ballgame.

Also, how is putting the DZire tour to CV dealership going to help?

Out of sight, out of mind - to the private buyer. Having two similar compact sedans - sharing the same name, no less - can make things difficult in the same showroom.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by GTO

1. Spread the network. You can't open a new 'Maruti' showroom right next to an existing 'Maruti' showroom. But you can create a 'Nexa'. It was a brilliant move.
.

It will be interesting to know how many of the 200 Nexas are actually brand new showrooms. Both the Nexas that I've dealt with are converts from a Maruti to a Nexa.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Both the Nexas that I've dealt with are converts from a Maruti to a Nexa.

So, in this case, they can open a Maruti showroom next to the Nexa convert. Maruti has a long list of entrepreneurs ready to invest in their dealerships.