Strong Baleno demand prompts Maruti Suzuki to step up production capacity

Strong demand for its premium hatchback Baleno is prompting Maruti Suzuki to increase production capacity ahead of the festive season.

The automaker has reported average monthly sales of about 16,500 units over the past five months and is sitting on a significant back order for the model.

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., said the company is working on capacity expansion and expects production of Baleno and other brands to increase further over the next two to four months.

The company expects demand to remain strong during the upcoming festive season, which traditionally accounts for nearly 30% of annual car sales in India.

Baleno, sold through Maruti’s Nexa premium retail channel, remains one of India’s best-selling hatchbacks since its launch in 2015. The current third-generation facelift competes with Hyundai i20, Tata Altroz and Toyota Glanza.