Maruti 800 production to end in April 2012

DNA India quotes Mr. I V Rao, Managing Executive Officer (engineering), Maruti Suzuki stating: “We are stopping production of this model from this April-end".
 
For a car that put modern India on wheels, and made Maruti Suzuki the No.1 Indian manufacturer within months of launch, it has been one heck of a journey. The Indian market has lapped up 25+ lakh copies of the Maruti 800 till date. Most of us learned how to drive on an 800, and it's certain that each enthusiast has driven the car at some point of time. The Maruti 800 brought previously unseen contemporariness, reliability, ease-of-driving & fuel efficiency to our market. Unlike the HM Ambassador & Premier Padmini, the Maruti 800 didn't overheat, nor did its radiator require a daily top up of water. No surprise that the waiting period for this li'l car ran for 5 years in the eighties, and is perhaps a rare car whose premium (for instant delivery) was more than the ex-showroom cost itself.

As our market matured, it was obvious that the ageing 800 could not hold on to its mantle of a best seller. Maruti didn't even bother to upgrade the 800 to BSIV emission norms, thus removing it from sale in the 13 major cities. In recent months, the Maruti 800 managed a mere 2,000 odd sales each month.

Maruti smartly repositioned the Alto to take over from the 800. After 2 decades of reigning over the market, in May 2004, the 800 ceded the title of a best-seller to the Maruti Alto.

Truly, the end of an icon. Take a spin down your favourite ghat section in a 5-speed Maruti 800 MPFI. A wide smile is guaranteed.

Related Threads:
800 replacement by December 2012 (New Maruti 800)
Maruti 800 Nostalgia (Maruti 800 Nostalgia (1984-1991))
Alto overtakes 800 (Maruti 800 ends 21 year long reign!!)
 
Recommended Book
The Maruti Story - RC Bhargava