September 2021 wasn’t a good month for Maruti Suzuki India as the automaker registered a sharp sales decline of 46 per cent year-on-year. The automaker retailed total of 86,830 units last month (domestic and exports) against 160,442 units of the same month previous year. Though, it didn’t come as a surprise as Maruti Suzuki had already announced production cut due to chip shortage. The automaker witnessed significant decline in the mini and compact segments.
Maruti Suzuki retailed 14,936 units of the Alto hatchback and S-Presso small car against 27,246 units of September 2020. In the compact sub-segment (includes Swift, Dzire Ignis and WagonR), it sold just 20,891 units as opposed to over 84,000 units of the same month last year. The automaker managed to sell 18,459 units of UV (including Vitara Brezza, Ertiga, XL6 and S-Cross) against 23,699 units of September 2020. The Indo-Japanese carmaker expects that the chip shortage will impact its production in the month of October as well.
If reports are to be believed, Maruti Suzuki will roll out the second-generation Celerio in the second week of November (possibly on 10th). The entry-level hatchback will witness significant changes in terms of design, features and performance. The 2021 Maruti Celerio will underpin the Heartect platform, thus making lighter and more rigid than the existing one. This time around, the carmaker might offer the WagonR’s 82bhp, 1.2L petrol engine along with the existing 69bhp, 1.0L naturally aspirated gasoline unit. Both manual and AMT gearboxes will be on offer.
The 2021 Maruti Celerio will carry more angular design elements instead of the tall-boy stance. The hatchback will also grow in size featuring long tapering roofline and extended glasshouse. Its interior is expected to be updated with a new infotainment unit and seat upholstery. More details on the new-generation Celerio are likely to be revealed in coming weeks. Stay tuned to IndiaCarNews.
