Kia, Mercedes, BYD set to launch new models in coming weeks; Maruti Suzuki gearing up for all-new Dzire

Kia India will also be launching the all-new Carnival MPV that is expected to be priced between Rs 50-60 lakh (ex-showroom)

As the festive season gets into gear, so do the carmakers to keep the sales momentum going with new launches. While September saw rollouts like Tata Curvv (ICE version), the Hyundai Alcazar facelift, MG Windsor EV, Mercedes Benz EQS (Maybach and SUV), etc., the coming weeks will see product launches by Maruti Suzuki, Kia, BYD, and Mercedes-Benz.

Having already launched the Thar Roxx on 15th August, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) will open the bookings for the lifestyle Sports Utility vehicle (SUV) on October 3. The five-door version of Thar will be available at a starting price Rs 12.99 lakh, and will take on Maruti Suzuki Jimny. M&M will be announcing the prices of the high-end trims of the SUV soon.

“With the Thar Roxx, we're setting our sights on making the Thar franchise the number one SUV franchise (>Rs 12.5 lakh segment) by volume within the next three to five years,” said Veejay Nakra, President, Automotive Division, M&M Ltd.

South Korean carmaker Kia will also be launching the all-new Carnival Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) and EV9 ultra-premium electric SUV on  October 3. While the former is expected to be priced between Rs 50-60 lakh (ex-showroom), the latter will be available in the range of Rs 80-90 lakh (ex-showroom). The company claimed that it had clocked 1,822 pre-orders of the Carnival within the first 24 hours of starting its booking on 16th September.

Meanwhile, Chinese carmaker BYD is all set to launch the eMax 7 in the country on 8 October. Ahead of its price announcement, the company has started accepting bookings for this model for Rs 51,000. The e-MPV, which will cater to both commercial and passenger segments, is expected to be a facelift of the e6 MPV, will be priced at around Rs 30 lakh

In the luxury car segment, Mercedes-Benz India s all set to launch the Benz E-Class Long Wheelbase (LWB) version on 9th October, offering both petrol and diesel options. While pre-orders of this luxury sedan have already begun, deliveries are expected to commence later next month. Once launched, it will be taking on the BMW 5 Series LWB and the upcoming updated Audi A6.

In a recent interaction with Moneycontrol, Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said that with the launch of its upcoming E-Class, sedans  may comprise half the company's sales by the year-end.

“At the moment, SUVs comprise 55 percent of our sales, and sedans 45. But that can change, for it has a lot to do with the product. When we launched the GLC, the sedans were doing well. Then the GLCs came, and now SUVs constitute the bulk of our sales. When the E class comes, maybe it'll be 50-50,'' Iyer told Moneycontrol during an interaction last month.

All-new Dzire

Passenger vehicle market leader Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch the all-new Dzire on 4th November this year. Sources have revealed that the entry-level sedan will be based on the new Swift platform, and will be a bit pricier than  the earlier version due to the new features.  The prices could start from just under Rs 7 lakh for the petrol manual version, going up to Rs 10 lakh+ for the top-end petrol AMT, said a source.

An emailed query sent to Maruti Suzuki remained unanswered till the time the story was published.

Amid weak demand, new vehicle launches and pricing adjustments are set to play a key role in reviving the automotive industry in these tough times by attracting footfalls into the showrooms, as per S&P Global Mobility.

“New models, with their modern features and designs are expected to excite buyers. The adoption of powertrain pluralism may also help OEMs introduce CNG, hybrid, EV, etc., variants.  Their timely launch could act as a trigger, prompting consumers to upgrade, and provide a much-needed boost to market sentiment and sales," said Puneet Gupta, Director, S&P Global Mobility.