Maruti 800: Story of A Little Giant: History

Maruti 800: Story of a little giant
The project was met with stiff opposition from several quarters. The protests were over the funding for the project
which was allegedly from ministers and businessmen. However, before the project materialised, Sanjay Gandhi died
in a tragic plane crash.
The company was liquidated, but that was not the end of it. Since it held a lot of promise for India, Indira Gandhi
nationalised it.
Maruti Udyog Ltd was thus established in February 1981.
"It is my desire, that this car will serve the ordinary people of India and they will have no complaint about this car. I
hope it will contribute in every aspect of nation-building and will serve the Indian people," Indira Gandhi said after
inaugurating the Maruti plant at Gurgaon.
Harpal Singh was the the first owner of Maruti 800. The keys of the car were handed over to him by Indira Gandhi.
Despite its tremendous success, however, it has not been an easy ride for Maruti Udyog.
Initially, no international player was keen to join hands with Maruti. Fortunately for it, however, Osamu Suzuki,
president of Suzuki Motor Corporation, during a visit to India, read a report on the project and asked his officials to bid
for the project.
Suzuki Motors joined the government as a joint venture partner with 50 per cent share.
The actual production commenced in 1983 with the Maruti 800, based on the Suzuki Alto Keicar. At that time,
Maruti's competitors were the Ambassador and the Premier Padmini.
The idea was to make a people's car for the middle class people who could not afford to buy a big car.
It was Sachin Tendulkar's first car
History
It used to be the best selling car in India until 2004; upon its launch the Maruti Alto [4] took that
title. It is also exported to a number of countries in South Asia including Bangladesh and Sri
Lanka, and to some South American markets (as Chile, sold as Suzuki Maruti), and was
available in selected European markets between 1988 and 1992, sold as the Suzuki Maruti. In
Morocco it is currently sold as Suzuki Maruti (as of March 2008). The car comes in different
versions including one with air conditioning and one without. It was launched in December 1984
with almost 100% imported components. The first car was presented to Lord Venkateshwara of
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple.
Proposed phasing out
Maruti Suzuki has planned a phase out of Maruti 800 beginning in April 2010. Maruti Suzuki
does not have plans to upgrade it to Euro IV or BS IV emission norms. Starting April 2010,
Maruti will stop selling the car in 13 major cities – the four metros and 9 other cities including
Kanpur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Agra and Surat, where the law made it
mandatory for the vehicles sold to be Euro IV compliant. Maruti 800 will be sold in other cities
until 2015–16.[5]
Another reason cited is the model's declining sales. Maruti 800 sales are down by 3.7% in the
month of April this year, when compared with April 2009. In April 2009, the total sales was
2345 and this year, it had gone to 2258. Total sales of Maruti 800 is 33028 for the period April
2009 to March 2010 [6] The Indian Automobile industry is the seventh largest in the world with
an annual production of over 11 million vehicles and exports of about 1.5 million.[7] In 2009,
India emerged as Asia's fourth largest exporter of automobiles, behind Japan, South Korea and
Thailand.[8]
Changes
The 800 has undergone some minor face lifts but overall it still remains the same as it was in
1984. The car has reported slipping sales in recent times, mainly due to the introduction of the
Alto at a comparable price. The car produces approximately 37 bhp (28 kW; 38 PS) of power
and runs on 12 inch wheels. Curb weight is 650 kg (1,433 lb) and 4 passengers (including the
driver) fit in. Top speed is in the region of 125 km/h (78 mph) and the car is known[who?] to
deliver fuel economy better than 20 km/l (47 mpg)[clarification needed] on clear and plain roads.[citation
needed]
Maruti Suzuki had earlier launched a version with a 4 valves per cylinder engine producing
45 bhp (34 kW; 46 PS) coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission (currently found in the
Suzuki Alto) but discontinued it after a couple of years.
A Euro III emission compliant version of the car was released in 2005 to meet Indian emissions
regulations. An LPG version of the vehicle was also released in 2008. As of September 2009, the
company has yet to reach a decision regarding the manufacture of a Euro IV compliant version
of the vehicle due because it would increase the retail price. However even stricter emissions
regulations which come into effect by April 2010, would mandate Euro IV compliance in major
Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore and 2015–2016 for the
remainder of the country.The car will be phased out in 2010.[9][10] Its main competitor is the
cheaper Tata Nano (123,000 compared to 184,641 Rupees) which has an 8 percent smaller
exterior size and a 23 percent larger interior space.[11][12][13]
Maruti Suzuki 800 Versions

 800 AC Uniq
 800 Duo Std LPG
 800 AC - BS III
 800 Duo AC LPG
WHY ARE INDIANS STILL BUYING THIS CAR?
Thousands-20,687 to be precise- bought a Maruti 800 in March this year..... It is also the
highest number any car brand has ever sold in a month in India.
For years, the M800 has remained the right opening car for people who look for low cost of
ownership, fuel efficiency, convenience and high resale value. Even with the air-conditioner
on, this car can give you 13-14 kilometres per litre of petrol.
Recently, in order to make the car more attractive, Maruti has installed a new engine ....
“The M800 E 2 AC has been a major success. There is currently a wait list of 1,500-1,600
vehicles,” quips a Maruti officials.

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Maruti 800: Story of a little giant

Maruti Udyog Ltd was thus established in February 1981.

It was Sachin Tendulkar's first car

Maruti Suzuki 800 Versions

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