Maruti Suzuki makes a splash with three concept cars at Auto expo

09 January 2008

New Delhi: Suzuki Motor Corporation has showcased three cars which will be manufactured only in India, at the Auto Expo being held in New Delhi. These include compact cars A-Star, Splash and the premium concept car 'Kizashi'.

To view the photo gallery of this vehicle, click here.

Speaking at the Auto Expo, Shinzo Nakanishi, managing director, Maruti Suzuki India, said, "We target to sell 3 billion units globally of the A-Star by financial year 2008 and our new plant in Manesar will play an important role in achieving this target." (See: Suzuki's forthcoming model to showcase Maruti's capabilities) 

"Production of the compact car A-Star would begin from October this year and it would then be exported overseas," Nakanishi said.

Saying that Maruti enjoyed 50 per cent market share in the Indian auto market, he disclosed that the company would launch one new model in India every year to consolidate its market position.

The A-Star is a five-door hatchback with a 1000cc petrol engine. The carmaker will start production for Europe around December 2008, followed by expansion to other markets around the world, the company said last year.

Apart from A-Star Maruti Suzuki also unveiled two new cars in India as part of a strategy to use its Indian operations as an export hub for small cars. These include the concept car Kizashi and the compact car Splash.