Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways India, said that the government will make 6 airbags mandatory for all motor vehicles with seating capacity of 8 passengers. The decision is said improve safety quotient of the vehicles and reduce road accidents. Though, the additional airbags will increase prices of the cars including the entry-level hatchbacks.
Speaking to a media publication, R C Bhargava, Maruti Suzuki Chairman, said that “the company will not hesitate to discontinue small cars” if the vehicles’ cost keeps increasing due to government policy interventions. He said that it will make small cars expensive and reduce production and sales of the vehicles.
The lower end of the market will be forced to purchase two-wheelers, which are less safe than four-wheelers. The company will still be able to make profits out of its range of bigger cars. Bhargava said that the manufacturing of small, low-cost cars unaffordable for many. It will have adverse impact on the economy and the growth of the car market.
Meanwhile, the Indo-Japanese automaker is ready to launch the second-generation Vitara Brezza on 30th June 2022. Called the 2022 Maruti Brezza, the new model will witness significant changes inside and out along with the updated engine setup. The SUV’s next-gen model lineup will come in 10 variants (including 7 manual and 3 automatic) powered by a 1.5L K15C smart hybrid petrol engine. The new motor is likely to be more frugal and have better NVH levels than the existing engine. Transmission options will include a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic.
Maruti Suzuki has been betting big on its upcoming SUV range. This year, the company will also bring in a new mid-size SUV co-developed with Toyota. If reports are to be believed, the model will be named Maurti Vitara. It will go head-to-head against the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. It will employ a hybrid powertrain under the hood.
