Maruti Suzuki aiming to sell 3 lakh automatics by 2020

With rising customer interest in automatic transmissions, Maruti Suzuki is focusing heavily on its range of automatic vehicles. The country's largest car maker is aiming to sell 3 lakh automatic cars by 2020.

In order to achieve this goal, the manufacturer will need to nearly double its automatic vehicle sales, from the current mark of 79,000 units in the last fiscal (FY 2016-17) to 1,50,000 units in the present fiscal (FY 2017-18). The company's Executive Director (R&D) - Mr. R S Kalsi has indicated that all the models which currently don't come with an automatic transmission option will soon get one. At present, Maruti uses three automatic transmissions across its portfolio - AMT, CVT and torque converter AT.

In terms of sales, AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) has till now been the most successful automatic transmission technology for Maruti Suzuki. This technology debuted with the Celerio hatchback and is now also offered with the Alto K10, WagonR, Ignis and the upcoming 2017 Dzire. Meanwhile, the Baleno uses a CVT while the Ciaz and Ertiga employ conventional torque converter ATs.

The Alto 800, Swift, Vitara Brezza and S-Cross are the only models that don't get an automatic option in their line-up. Maruti thus might soon launch new variants for these car lines that will come with any of the three transmission options.

Source: TOI