Maruti Suzuki likely to venture into light commercial vehicle market

Maruti Suzuki is in the offing to enter the light commercial vehicle (LCV) market by 2015, according to a report on The Financial Express. The entry is expected to be kick-started by a mini pickup truck based on the Suzuki Carry, currently sold in South East Asian markets.

The Suzuki Carry platform is presently shared by the Maruti Suzuki Eeco on the same rear wheel drive set up. Thus, the Carry based new LCV is expected to follow the same layout. The report claims mini pickup truck will be sold with a Petrol/CNG engine and a diesel option.

The 1.3-litre Fiat multijet engine is expected to power the diesel LCV while in a lower state of tune than the one ne found on the Swift. The Premier Rio has for long been the sole rear wheel drive vehicle powered by this engine though, the Chevy Enjoy now uses a derivative of the engine in the same setup. The Eeco, which currently does not offer this diesel engine and so it may inherit this option from the new LCV.

The Carry, when launched in India will go up against the current market leader, the Tata Ace. Maruti has not yet made announcements on which plants will be used for the manufacturing of the LCV or on the distribution channel they intend to adopt. In terms of manufacturing, the new venture is expected to be a cost effective one considering the platform is already in production in India.

Source: FT