
Maruti Suzuki to launch new mid-sized SUV on Sept 3 to regain market share
Maruti Suzuki
India will introduce a new mid-sized SUV on 3 September, marking its second offering in the segment as the automaker seeks to counter weakening demand for its small cars and reclaim lost market share.
As per Bloomberg the new model — the first to roll out from the company's Kharkhoda facility in Haryana — is targeted to reach a production run of around 10,000 units a month once fully scaled, people familiar with the matter said. Unlike the Grand Vitara, which is sold through the premium Nexa channel, the new SUV will be retailed via Maruti Suzuki's Arena network, positioning it for a more mass-market audience.
The launch comes amid intensifying competition in the SUV space, where rivals Mahindra & Mahindra, Hyundai Motor India, and Tata Motors have gained ground as consumer preferences shift away from hatchbacks. With hatchback sales under pressure, Maruti Suzuki's ambition to raise its domestic market share from about 40 per cent to 50 per cent has faced challenges.
The model will also be only the second in this category from Suzuki globally, underlining India's importance to the Japanese parent's growth plans. Maruti's performance is central to Suzuki's medium-term strategy for fiscal 2026–31, with the Indian arm accounting for about 60 per cent of global sales.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
Crafting controversy: Rethinking protection for India's arts
As global luxury brands turn to Indian heritage crafts for inspiration, questions mount over fair collaboration, legal protection, and the future of traditional artisans.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
GST 2.0 to offer treatment for other pain points too
The proposed goods and services tax (GST) 2.0, hammered out over months of extensive deliberations, will go beyond the mere reduction of rates. It will be a deep-dive overhaul of the indirect tax framework that was rolled out eight years ago, officials said. The revamp will seek to bring an end to classification disputes , duty inversions and procedural issues to provide stability and clarity to businesses, they said. Independence Day 2025 Modi signals new push for tech independence with local chips Before Trump, British used tariffs to kill Indian textile Bank of Azad Hind: When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave India its own currency The exercise will also be accompanied by a push for greater alignment and coordination between the state and central tax authorities on assessment, audit and investigation to ensure that businesses do not face multiple actions for the same matter, the officials said. The GST Council , the apex decision-making body on the levy, is likely to meet September 18-19 to take up the proposed changes, they said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What If Your Neck Is Causing Your Ear Ringing? Tinnitus Experts Undo Prime Minister Narendra Modi had highlighted the coming changes in GST during his Independence Day address on Friday, calling it a 'Diwali gift' for the people of the country. Live Events GST 2.0 will also reduce the tax burden by having only two major slabs — 5% and 18%. 'Rate rationalisation is one part of the proposal, but it goes much beyond that… This is an opportunity for a wider reform of the structure,' one of the officials told ET. Divergent decisions by various courts on the taxation of the same items had given rise to ambiguity, he said. Other challenges related to inverted duty structures and input tax credit are being addressed through this exercise in a comprehensive manner, the person said. 'GST with multiple changes every now and then had become a work in progress,' another official said. Special levy for sin goods 'The proposed exercise aims to revamp and simplify the structure in a holistic and comprehensive way instead of a piecemeal exercise,' official said. The recast also aims to resolve classification disputes that have arisen due to different varieties of similar goods having been placed in various slabs. The official said no differentiation would be made on account of divergent prices for the same good as a principle. Issues related to whether a namkeen is extrusion-based or non-extrusion-based or whether a product is sweet or savoury — thus attracting different tax rates — will not arise following the changes. The Centre, in its proposal, has sought to scrap the 12% and 28% slabs, retaining only the 5% and 18% rates. Most of the items of daily consumption, those used in farming or related to health are expected to be in the 5% bracket. A special rate of 40% will be introduced for about half-adozen items that will include so-called sin goods and luxury cars. 'We have examined each item and issues around it,' the second official said. 'The idea was to look ahead and not how it was done in the past, line by line… It was an intensive and rigorous exercise.' The proposal has already been sent to the group of ministers (GoM) that the GST Council had set up on rate rationalisation. The panel will deliberate on the Centre's proposal in the coming week. The GoM's recommendations will be placed before the GST Council. The Centre will hold discussions with the states on the proposal, which has the potential to perk up domestic consumption and bolster growth. Officials are hopeful that the timelines can be met to meet the festive season shopping date.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
From Wimbledon to F1: Surprises for staff bringing their A-game
Corporate rewards and recognition (R&R) programmes are no longer about gift vouchers, gold coins, or a pat on the back. From Wimbledon to Formula 1 and even cricket on ice in Switzerland, companies are increasingly sending top performers on all-expense-paid experiential trips. Independence Day 2025 Modi signals new push for tech independence with local chips Before Trump, British used tariffs to kill Indian textile Bank of Azad Hind: When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave India its own currency Hero Future Energies, for instance, recently sponsored the winners of its 'Chairman's Challenge' to watch the Wimbledon Tennis Championship, while firms like Mankind Pharma and Sterlite Group are offering key employees luxury trips to international destinations and global sporting events. Travel operators like Thomas Cook and SOTC say demand for such experiential R&R tours to both domestic and international locations has surged in recent months. 'Sports is proving to be a powerful driver for the incentive-reward programmes,' said Rajeev Kale, president and country head – holidays, MICE, visa, at Thomas Cook (India). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo This July, Hero Future Energies (HFE), Hero Group's renewable energy arm, sent eight employees to London to watch Wimbledon for their 'outstanding performance' in the areas of AI, process automation and digitisation. Live Events 'This was a fully sponsored trip covering travel, accommodation, registration, and related expenses,' Bhawna Kirpal Mital, chief HR officer of HFE, told ET. Companies across industries from pharmaceuticals and information technology (IT) to services sectors and banking, financial service and insurance (BFSI) are increasingly sending employees on domestic and international trips, according to travel companies. Curated experiences 'What started as a domestic outing, and then exotic international destinations, has now evolved to truly experiential events,' said SD Nandakumar, president and country head – holidays and corporate tours, at SOTC Travel. Corporates are sponsoring fully paid luxury tours to sporting events like F1 races (Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Bahrain, and Italy's Monza circuits), Grand Slam tennis events such as Wimbledon and the Australian Open, European club football, and cricket, Nandakumar said. Amid rising corporate demand, Thomas Cook is organising sports-led experiential trips, such as a buy-out of Auckland's Eden Park for a private corporate cricket match, complete with Indian chefs at live cooking counters, professional commentators, and VIP interactions with celebrity players. The company grabbed 'uber premium grandstand seating' at the British Silverstone F1 Grand Prix, and held private rugby matches in New Zealand, ice-hockey showdowns in Prague, and a cricket match on ice in Switzerland. 'It's no longer just about travel; it's about creating transformative journeys that inspire, connect, and celebrate top performers,' Kale said. Prateek Dubey, global CHRO at Mankind Pharma, said international trips and global event participation are among the firm's recognition initiatives for employees this year. 'The destinations are curated to offer unforgettable and culturally rich experiences — ranging from global cities to iconic events,' he said. These include select international conferences, leadership summits, Mankind's flagship Medal Meet. 'It also includes immersive experiences that combine leisure with learning opportunities,' Dubey said. The design and engineering team at Resonia (part of Sterlite Group) recently presented a paper on its Mumbai Urja Marg project at the CIGRE Norway Symposium 2025, said Ruhie Pande, group CHRO of Sterlite Electric, Resonia and Serentica Renewables. Sterlite Group also sends employees to international conferences for spotting new trends, presenting papers, and attending. Sterlite Group also organises all-expense-paid team off-sites, Pande said.