Maruti to supply Petrol engines for Mazda VX1 MPV

Maruti will export Petrol engines for Mazda'a badge engineered version of the Ertiga MPV, called VX-1 according to report in the Economic Times.

The Mazda VX-1 MPV has just gone on sale in Indonesia. Maruti already exports the Ertiga in completely-knocked down (CKD) kit form to Suzuki Indonesia.

The deal would allow Maruti to better utilise spare engine production capacity at its plants, with demand having been skewed towards Diesel engines. According to the report, Maruti is supplying in excess of 50,000 CKD kits of the Ertiga annually to Suzuki Indonesia.

It is possible that other improvements could be made by Maruti for the VX-1 (If requested for by Mazda). 

Maruti already manufactures its A-Star for Nissan Motors, which sells the little hatchback as the Nissan Pixo in Europe. The Pixo is manufactured at Maruti's Manesar plant and comes with better interiors and keyless engine start (For improved fuel efficiency in urban conditions). The engine that Maruti supplies for the Pixo is also reworked for improved fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.

Maruti received orders for 10,000 units of the Pixo from Suzuki Motor Corporation last year, to be supplied to Nissan.