Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) has dismissed speculations that it was contemplating phasing out any of its models like Esteem or M-800 even as its latest hatchback offering 'Swift' has evoked enthusiastic response from the market. MUL GM (Marketing) Mayank Pareek, who was in the metropolis to launch 'Swift', ruled out phasing out any models putting to rest speculations that the company was contemplating gradual phase out of its oldest model M 800 and mid-sized sedan Esteem to make space for the new models. "Esteem is selling around 2,300 units per month which is possibilby the third largest selling car. While, M 800 is selling 6,000 to 7,000 units per month even in the lean months, so there is no such plan (of phase out)," MUL GM (Marketing) Maynak Pareek said. Incidentally, M-800, once considered MUL's bread and butter model, has already been replaced as the company's largest selling car by 'Alto' following re-positioning. Asked about MUL's future plans about new models, he said that the company did not have any roadmap to introduce any new model on the new Swift platform. On the export prospects of 'Swift', MUL Director K Saito said that the company has decided not to export the new model at least for the first year. Explaining the rationale behind this policy another MUL official, who did not want to be quoted said, "We will not export the Swift for the first year to meet the domestic demand which is more interesting and demanding." He said that the scope for export for the Indian plant of Suzuki Motors was limited to only neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Exports to other countries in other continents and Asian countries were served by other three manufacturing units in Hungary, Japan and China.'Swift', which has been placed in the B+ segment in direct competition to Huyndai's recent launch Getz, Fiat's Palio and Tata's Indica, has already evoked highly enthusiastic response from the market with more than 10,000 bookings within a few days of the launch. The company is at present concentrating on maintaining its position at the largest auto company in the country with 55 per cent share of the Indian market. Moreover, the export market was also expected to remain flat according to the company's own estimates and this has apparently compelled Maruti to look into the domestic market more aggressively in terms product and pricing. MUL launched 'Swift' earlier this week and aggressively priced its base model at Rs 3.87 lakh thus throwing a direct challenge to competititors.
