In an attempt to rev up against the competition, Maruti Suzuki plans to introduce the advanced driver assist system (ADAS). Sources privy to the company’s plans told Moneycontrol that the country’s largest carmaker is planning to roll out the ADAS-equipped Grand Vitara by the first quarter of the next financial year.
Expected to be Rs 50,000-75,000 pricier than the top-end trims of the Smart Hybrid and Strong Hybrid variants of the midsize Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), the vehicle will feature level 2 assist systems. The ex-showroom prices of the current Maruti Grand Vitara start at Rs 10.70 lakh for the base version, and go up to Rs 19.20 lakh for the top-end trim.
ADAS is a suite of electronic functions designed to improve the safety of the driver, passengers, and pedestrians. The aim is to first minimise and then eliminate accidents, depending on the level of the functions. Vehicles with level 2 ADAS can take over steering, acceleration, and braking in certain situations, and offers autonomous obstacle avoidance, autonomous parking, etc.
The car will be built by Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), which is already making the Suzuki Grand Vitara as part of MSIL parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation’s (SMC) collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC). It will be manufactured at TKM’s existing facility in Karnataka, where the Hyryder (rebadged Grand Vitara) is also made.
Sources say TKM will also roll out an ADAS-loaded Hyryder, although the company has not officially revealed this. The new variant of the Grand Vitara will be pitted against other ADAS-equipped vehicles such as Kia Seltos, Honda Elevate, Toyota Hyryder, and the upcoming facelifted Creta (to be launched by March 2024)
“Even though companies like Tata, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, etc., have already started offering level 2 ADAS, Maruti Suzuki aims to make this technology prominent through its wider retail footprint. The company is already in talks with ICAT (International Centre For Automotive Technology) for test runs at the latter’s Manesar track. Once that’s done, the company will position the SUV as an ultra-safe vehicle for the masses,” said a well-informed source who requested anonymity.
Another source said, “Maruti Suzuki was initially planning to roll out this model during the third quarter of this calendar. But TKM is facing a shortage of semiconductors and other components as its global suppliers are unable to supply the required quantities. However, the company is working on streamlining the whole process and has placed an order for key electronic components like radars, sensors, and cameras for both the Hyryder and the Grand Vitara.”
A Maruti Suzuki spokesperson, when contacted by Moneycontrol, said, “As a policy, we do not comment on future plans and products.” TKM also did not respond to Moneycontrol’s queries.
“Midsize SUVs like the new Kia Seltos are now ahead of the curve in terms of features, relative to Suzuki. The Grand Vitara quickly needs to upgrade to cater to the highly aspirational customers in this segment, for whom ADAS is a high priority,’’ said Puneet Gupta Director (India & ASEAN Automotive Sales Forecast), S&P Global Mobility.
As per 6Wresearch, a global market research and consulting firm, the penetration of ADAS in the domestic passenger vehicle market last year stood at around 3.4 percent, and is expected to inching upwards to 4.2 percent by 2023-end. The proportion of ADAS-enabled cars is expected to triple to 12.4 percent by 2030.
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