Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) will launch its new hatchback car, A-Star, by mid November in the domestic market. India will be the first country to drive this car designed and developed by the company as a global strategic model, a company official said, here today.
A-Star will be fitted with 1-litre K-series petrol engine developed in-house by Suzuki engineers. To begin with, MSIL aims to produce 100,000 cars for export markets and 50,000 cars for the domestic market. It will be exported to over 150 countries around the world except the US market, the official told reporters.
A-Star is likely to be priced close to Rs 4 lakh (ex-showroom) and will come in three variants. While the car will also be marketed by Nissan under the brand name, Pixo, in West Asia and European markets. A-Star will be the first car model to be manufactured in India for two separate car companies, Suzuki and Nissan. Maruti Suzuki had signed a tripartite agreement with Suzuki of Japan and Nissan to manufacture this car under the contract manufacturing arrangement. MSIL and Suzuki will sell this car under the brand name, A-Star both in India and export markets, the official said.
The car will compete in the premium A2 segment with rival car models like Hyundai i10, Tata Indigo CS, Swift among others.