Believe it or not, Maruti Suzuki has notched up an incredible 35 lakh cumulative sales figure this year. For the past 18 years, since the launch of the first Alto in India, this hatchback built on the legacy of the iconic Maruti 800 and continues to do so in its new avatars. In effect, making it one of the longest standing best sellers in the country.
Launched in 2000 with an 800cc engine, the Alto’s sales crossed the 10-lakh mark in 2008. In 2010, Maruti Suzuki introduced the Alto K10, powered by a 1000cc engine before also introducing an 800cc variant in 2012. Two years later it got the benefit of an automated manual transmission, introducing the joy of two-pedal technology to the entry level segment. Helped by these changes and by its strong brand image, it crossed the 30-lakh mark by 2015.
On the success of the Alto, R S Kalsi, senior executive director, marketing and sales, Maruti Suzuki, said, “Brand Alto continues to remain fresh, relevant and as exciting as it was in 2000. Since 2006, every two years, Alto is adding 5 lakh new happy customers. In 2008, we clocked 10 lakh units. In 2010, it touched 15 lakh units and today in 2018, we have crossed 35 lakhs of cumulative sales. Maruti Suzuki has systematically upgraded the Alto to meet the ever evolving customer aspirations and strengthen the brand Alto. In 2017-18, nearly 55 per cent of customers have selected Alto as their first car purchase in 2017-18. Interestingly, 25 per cent of Alto buyers are buying it as an additional car.”