Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL) has ceased production of the Maruti 800 model, effective January, but as per rules, spare parts will be available for customers for the next eight to 10 years, reports PTI citing C V Raman, executive director MSIL.
The Maruti 800 was based on a 1980s vintage Suzuki Alto and remained in production as a low-cost model. It is now finishing because of tigher emission standards in India that its engine cannot meet without considerable investment in re-engineering.
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“Now on the 18th of January we have stopped the M-800 production completely. We have to keep all of them (dies and moulds) for the spare parts requirement. We have to continuously meet the customer requirements. That is our duty to make sure that they get all the parts,” said Raman.
“Our policy is 8 to 10 years we have to keep (the spares available). For all the models which have been phased out till date, we have followed this policy.”
According to the Maruti-800 official website, the car is now priced over INR235,000 (US$3,780.64).
“There could be some stock of M-800 at the dealer level and I don’t know the exact number,” said Raman.
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By GlobalDataAccording to Raman, in 2014, MSIL retail sales are expected to increase 3% to 4% over 2013.
