Maruti Suzuki Ltd expects to continue its growth momentum during the current financial year with the first five months registering a strong growth of 13.9 per cent and a market share of 47.6 per cent.
The market share has also gone up by about 3 per cent during the year backed by strong volumes. With festive season ahead, the company expects double-digit growth.
Wide network
Ram Suresh Akella, Vice-President & Commercial Business Head (South), told BusinessLine the growth momentum has been possible due to a wide network of sales and service centres, strong brand presence and wide range of models to meet diverse requirements of the customers.
Significantly, an initiative started few years ago to tap into rural markets has been a major success, he said.
Positive outlook
The carmaker had planned to enter rural markets by seeking to reach out to untapped villages. In the first year, Maruti managed to sell 43,000 units (2012-13), followed this up with 94,000 units in 2013-14 and closed with 1,25,000 units in 2014-15. “We expect this number to go up to 1,50,000 this year,” he said.
Ram Suresh Akella was in Hyderabad to open a new showroom and workshop of Adarsha Automotive, at Chandrayangutta, in the old city of Hyderabad.
Adarasha has been a long associate of Maruti with a strong dealership network in several districts in Telangana. Akella said along with the strong rural push the company plans to ensure easy availability of spares and services.
After-sales service
The company has also been strengthening and expanding its network of sales and service centres while also reaching out with its spares and support.
With a network of over 3,000-plus service outlets of varying formats and sizes, the presence and reach is huge providing great comfort to the large customer base, he explained.