Maruti rolls out 1,00,000th A-Star

LastActionHero · 12th August 2009, 12:23

Quote:

The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India has achieved the feat of rolling out the 1,00,000th of its flagship export model, A-Star.
The Manesar facility of the company, which manufactures A-Star, SX4, Swift and Swift DZiRE, has also crossed the 5-lakh-units production mark since the commencement of the unit.
These landmarks come less than two weeks after the company achieved the milestone of producing 80 lakh units of the car since 1983.
"A-Star is doing very well in the export market. We are planning to export over 75,000 units of the car by the end of this fiscal," Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R C Bhargava told PTI.
He said Japanese car giant Nissan has increased the order of the small car to 54,000 units for this fiscal from 30,000 units. Nissan sells the car in the European market under the brand Pixo.
"At one stage Nissan was very hesitant to place order and they had reduced it from 50,000 units, which they were discussing with us. Now the total A-Star export will cross 1.3 lakh units in 2009-10," Bhargava said.
The company has already exported over 50,000 units of A-Star to over 44 countries including Netherlands, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Angola, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Morocco, Libya, New Zealand and some Latin American nations. The production of the model started in October, 2008. The 1,00,000th A-Star unit was rolled out of the Manesar plant on August 11.
Meanwhile, the Manesar plant, which has an installed capacity of 3-lakh units a year, has produced over 5 lakh units within 35 months of its commercial operations.
"Manesar plant is doing very well, in fact it is doing better than anybody has projected," Bhargava said.

People are buying A-Star in droves? This is news to me. I'm sure Manesar is doing well purely because of the huge demand for DDiS engine based cars. Already I'm seeing increasing number of Ritz on the roads. The ads by dealers also promote Ritz over the Swift. Saw an advt today in Bangalore Times where they were promoting Ritz diesel over Swift diesel with the USP of having the same engine

Source: Business Standard

Mpower · 12th August 2009, 17:58

Like the article says 50% is exported. No wonder its priced to 'not sell'

aaggoswami · 12th August 2009, 19:33

A-star is doing better than expected mainly because of some scheme or something that is running in Europe. From what I have read, the relatively low emissions is also helpful as Europeans are putting preference on low emission cars.

What I am not able to understand is this : Lets say that 60% is export, then 40K units must be running on Indian roads. But I am not able to spot as many A-star as I am able to spot Ritz.

In any way, maruti is doing good by producing so many cars and low emission was expected from the A-star in Europe ( its Alto there, atleast UK ). This is surely an achievement in times where automotive market is not expanding. I appreciate Maruti for this achievement.

safari_lover · 12th August 2009, 19:43

A-Star sells less than 3000 units a month according to Autocar India's this month's issue. That is pretty low for a car of it's size!

nitrous · 12th August 2009, 20:04

I think its made in India as a Renault and Nissan too.

harry10 · 12th August 2009, 20:16

I see more of ritz than A-star.
Maybe people didn't appreicate the lack of space at the back.
As 50000 units are exported means only 50000 are there for indians(still the figure is high if its selling 3k every month)

supremeBaleno · 12th August 2009, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaggoswami

Lets say that 60% is export, then 40K units must be running on Indian roads. But I am not able to spot as many A-star as I am able to spot Ritz.

Same here. I don't see that many A-stars on the road in Chennai or Kerala. So where are all these cars that they are supposedly selling ?

BTW, to which countries are they exporting ? Is Europe on the list ? Because one drawback seen in the A-star is the lack of space. If that's for us moderately built Indians (nitrous being an exception

), was wondering how it would work for the comparitively better built Europeans ?

EDIT : In hindsight, I guess the export models would be 3-door variety, with the rear bench not really used for seating. In which case, the space might not be an issue in EU countries.

dhrishikesh · 12th August 2009, 20:48

I think around 50% of them have been exported as a global Alto, as per I have read somewhere.

happy.tripathy · 12th August 2009, 21:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaggoswami

What I am not able to understand is this : Lets say that 60% is export, then 40K units must be running on Indian roads. But I am not able to spot as many A-star as I am able to spot Ritz.

The AStar being sold in India is it the same that is being exported to european markets ? Coz when I did the TD of the AStar I was told by the sales representative that the AStar sold in EU is a 2 seater version.

Or are the 2 seater and 4 seater both being produced in India, but only the 4 seater sold in india ?

fx45 · 13th August 2009, 13:31

we got only the FOURDOOR version sold here in India, intenational markets would have two and four door versions, i havent seen a two door A-star or Alto as yet. the current design. I dont think they make one. If Maruti puts a 1.3DDILS MJD into the A-star, it might transform itself as a diesel pocket rocket, what say guys?

12th August 2009, 17:58	#2
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Like the article says 50% is exported. No wonder its priced to 'not sell'
	() Thanks

12th August 2009, 19:33	#3
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,931 Times	A-star is doing better than expected mainly because of some scheme or something that is running in Europe. From what I have read, the relatively low emissions is also helpful as Europeans are putting preference on low emission cars. What I am not able to understand is this : Lets say that 60% is export, then 40K units must be running on Indian roads. But I am not able to spot as many A-star as I am able to spot Ritz. In any way, maruti is doing good by producing so many cars and low emission was expected from the A-star in Europe ( its Alto there, atleast UK ). This is surely an achievement in times where automotive market is not expanding. I appreciate Maruti for this achievement.
	() Thanks

12th August 2009, 19:43	#4
safari_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bengaluru / Bagdal Posts: 1,135 Thanked: 685 Times	A-Star sells less than 3000 units a month according to Autocar India's this month's issue. That is pretty low for a car of it's size! Last edited by safari_lover : 12th August 2009 at 19:45.
	() Thanks

12th August 2009, 20:04	#5
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	I think its made in India as a Renault and Nissan too.
	() Thanks

12th August 2009, 20:16	#6
harry10 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Faridabad/Delhi Posts: 2,713 Thanked: 3,624 Times View My Garage	I see more of ritz than A-star. Maybe people didn't appreicate the lack of space at the back. As 50000 units are exported means only 50000 are there for indians(still the figure is high if its selling 3k every month)
	() Thanks

12th August 2009, 20:48	#8
dhrishikesh BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mumbai / Pune B Posts: 806 Thanked: 214 Times	I think around 50% of them have been exported as a global Alto, as per I have read somewhere.
	() Thanks

13th August 2009, 13:31	#10
fx45 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,823 Thanked: 384 Times	we got only the FOURDOOR version sold here in India, intenational markets would have two and four door versions, i havent seen a two door A-star or Alto as yet. the current design. I dont think they make one. If Maruti puts a 1.3DDILS MJD into the A-star, it might transform itself as a diesel pocket rocket, what say guys?
	() Thanks