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Time of India
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Maruti Baleno, Ertiga now get six airbags as standard across all variants
In a move that strengthens its commitment to vehicle safety, Maruti Suzuki has rolled out a crucial upgrade across its two popular offerings — the Baleno and Ertiga. Both models will now feature six airbags as standard, covering every variant in their respective line-ups. This update not only aligns with upcoming safety norms but also signals a shift in how mass-market cars are being positioned with safety as a priority. The decision has also prompted a moderate increase in prices for both vehicles across India. Safety Comes First Across All Variants Maruti Suzuki has officially announced that six airbags will now be included as standard across all variants of both the Baleno hatchback and the Ertiga MPV. This move brings the models in line with the company's broader safety roadmap and anticipates the government's upcoming mandate requiring six airbags in all new passenger cars by October 2025. With this update, Maruti continues to expand its safety coverage from premium to mid-range and entry-level vehicles, reflecting changing expectations among Indian buyers. Moderate Price Revisions Post-Upgrade Alongside the safety enhancement, the company has made modest revisions to pricing. The Baleno now starts at ₹6.70 lakh and goes up to ₹9.92 lakh, ex-showroom, while the Ertiga's new price range is between ₹8.96 lakh and ₹13.25 lakh. The adjustments represent a price increase of up to 0.5% for the Baleno and up to 1.4% for the Ertiga. Despite the hike, the added value through enhanced safety features is likely to appeal to safety-conscious buyers. Aligning With Upcoming Safety Mandates This upgrade comes as part of Maruti Suzuki's ongoing effort to comply with evolving safety norms set by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The ministry has stated that by October 2025, all new passenger vehicles sold in the country must be equipped with six airbags as standard. Maruti's early adoption of this requirement positions it favourably in the market and gives consumers access to enhanced protection ahead of the regulatory deadline. Broader Safety Expansion Across Maruti Portfolio In recent months, Maruti has made consistent efforts to offer improved safety features across its entire vehicle line-up. The six-airbag standard is no longer limited to high-end models. It has been extended to entry-level cars such as the Alto K10, WagonR, Celerio, and Eeco, especially within the Arena portfolio. The rollout has also reached Nexa offerings, reflecting a company-wide shift in strategy focused on safer mobility. Market Context And Sales Snapshot While the company has introduced positive developments in vehicle safety, it has simultaneously faced market pressures. Maruti Suzuki reported a 6% year-on-year decline in total sales for June 2025, with 1.68 lakh units sold compared to 1.79 lakh in June 2024. Domestic passenger vehicle sales witnessed a sharper dip, down 13% to 1.19 lakh units. Despite this, the brand remains focused on long-term quality and safety improvements, which could bolster consumer confidence going forward. Consumer Impact And Industry Direction The decision to standardise six airbags in models like the Baleno and Ertiga will likely influence consumer choices, especially for families and first-time buyers. Safety has increasingly become a key factor in purchasing decisions, with awareness growing steadily in both urban and semi-urban markets. Maruti's latest step may also put pressure on other manufacturers to accelerate similar safety offerings in their entry-level and mid-range segments, driving industry-wide change.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Maruti Suzuki announces standardization of six airbags in Ertiga & Baleno, ex-showroom prices to rise
Auto giant Maruti Suzuki on Wednesday announced the standardization of six airbags in its Ertiga and Baleno models will lead to an increase in their average ex-showroom prices. The standardization will result in a 1.4per cent increase in the ex-showroom price of the Ertiga and a 0.5% hike for the Baleno, effective from July 16. Recently, Maruti Suzuki India reported a 6 per cent year-on-year decline in total sales to 1,67,993 units in June. The move by the country's largest carmaker comes as it announced that it will equip all its passenger vehicles with six airbags by the end of this year. The company offers 10 models with six airbags as a standard feature across variants. These models are Alto K10, Celerio, WagonR, Eeco, Swift, Dzire, Brezza, Grand Vitara, Jimny and Invicto. "Within this year, Maruti Suzuki will be having all models across all variants equipped with six airbags as standard," said Hisashi Takeuchi , managing director of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL), the Indian subsidiary of Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation. Demand for safety features Safety features like six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock braking systems (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), and ISOFIX child seat mounts--all considered luxuries till recently--are rapidly becoming standard. Increasingly stricter norms in recent years—the latest government mandate requires six airbags in passenger vehicles by October 2025—is accelerating the trend. But the main driver is demand.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Maruti Suzuki announces standardization of six airbags in Ertiga & Baleno, ex-showroom prices to rise
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Auto giant Maruti Suzuki on Wednesday announced the standardization of six airbags in its Ertiga and Baleno models will lead to an increase in their average ex-showroom standardization will result in a 1.4% increase in the ex-showroom price of the Ertiga and a 0.5% hike for the Baleno, effective from July Maruti Suzuki India reported a 6 per cent year-on-year decline in total sales to 1,67,993 units in move by the country's largest carmaker comes as it announced that it will equip all its passenger vehicles with six airbags by the end of this year. The company offers 10 models with six airbags as a standard feature across variants. These models are Alto K10, Celerio, WagonR, Eeco, Swift, Dzire, Brezza, Grand Vitara, Jimny and Invicto."Within this year, Maruti Suzuki will be having all models across all variants equipped with six airbags as standard," said Hisashi Takeuchi, managing director of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL), the Indian subsidiary of Japan's Suzuki Motor features like six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock braking systems (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), and ISOFIX child seat mounts--all considered luxuries till recently--are rapidly becoming stricter norms in recent years—the latest government mandate requires six airbags in passenger vehicles by October 2025—is accelerating the trend. But the main driver is demand.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Time of India
Couple arrested for murder, faking husband's death for Rs2cr insurance
Lucknow: In a sensational twist to the discovery of a charred body inside a burned car in Chitrakoot district, police arrested a couple for allegedly staging a murder to fake the husband's death and claim a Rs 2 crore life insurance payout. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now DGP Rajeev Krishna has ordered swift action in the case. The arrest of Sunil Singh (39) and his wife Hema Singh (35), both residents of Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, by Chitrakoot police exposed a shocking case of pre-planned insurance fraud, identity manipulation, and cold-blooded murder. The couple was apprehended near Anandpur Ragouli village in Kotwali Karwi on July 7, based on a tip-off received by the district's Special Operations Group (SOG). On June 30, a burnt Alto K10 with a Madhya Pradesh registration was found on the roadside near Sikri Aman village under Rajapur police station. Inside it was an unrecognizable charred corpse. The initial investigation could not confirm the identity. The car was traced back to Sagmendra Singh, brother-in-law of Sunil Singh. The family, including Sagmendra's daughter Hema, suspected that Sunil himself died in the fire. An FIR was registered under BNS sections 103(1) (murder) and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) against unknown persons. DNA tests were ordered. Meanwhile, suspicion began to grow when Sunil was reportedly spotted alive. Acting on a lead, police intercepted Sunil on July 7. Under interrogation, Sunil admitted the body in the car was not his, but that of Vinay Chauhan, a man he lured into a trap after befriending him at a liquor shop. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Chauhan, a solitary man with no close family, was drugged, burned alive, and left inside Sunil's car. Sunil and Hema then tried to pass the corpse off as Sunil's to fraudulently claim his Rs 2 crore life insurance. Sunil confessed that the idea came from watching crime shows on YouTube and TV, and he believed the murder would go unnoticed if the victim had no relatives. He took a loan to buy a harvester and was under heavy debt, which led to frequent fights with his wife. Desperate to escape the financial burden, he concocted a plan to fake his death and start a new life with insurance money. On June 29, Sunil lured Vinay with food and liquor, drove him to a secluded spot, doused him in camphor and body spray, and set him ablaze using a small gas cylinder inside the car. He watched the vehicle explode from a distance before fleeing to Prayagraj. Hema Singh played a key role in the aftermath — pretending to mourn her husband's death, identifying the body as his, and misleading family and police. The actual victim, Vinay Chauhan, was later identified through inquiry in Nehru Nagar, Rewa, by his brother Vikas Chauhan, who confirmed Vinay had been missing since June 29.
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
In pics: Car sales in India slump in June, SUVs contonue to buck the trend
1/10 The Indian PV market witnessed a mixed sales performance in June 2025, with three of the top four OEMs, including Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors recording sales slump amid weak consumer sentiment. The automakers have blamed it to the geopolitical crisis, Weighed down by a slowdown in retail demand, car manufacturers reduced passenger vehicle supplies to the auto dealers in June. This resulted in a seven per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in wholesale dispatch numbers. Seven of the country's largest car manufacturers, cumulatively accounting for 95 per cent of the domestic PV market, dispatched 300,226 units to their dealer networks last month. 2/10 The small car sales continued to see a lacklustre performance last month, while SUVs bucked the trend of declining sales. Since 2019, the Indian PV industry's entry-level price point has increased by more than 70 per cent, which was largely driven by stricter safety and emission regulations. Over the same period, sales of small cars have dropped by more than 70 per cent. This has directly impacted the carmakers such as Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors adversely. 3/10 Maruti Suzuki registered its weakest domestic monthly sales in more than 18 months. The OEM that has the largest pool of small cars saw a 13 per cent YoY drop in wholesale volumes in June 2025, down to 118,906 units compared to 137,160 units sold in June last year. Small cars like Alto K10 and S-Presso saw sales plummet to 6,414 units from 9,395 units. On the other hand, sales of compact models like Baleno, Celerio, WagonR, Swift, Ignis, and Dzire declined to 54,177 units from 64,049 units. Sales of the brand's utility vehicles, including Grand Vitara, Brezza, and Jimny, dropped to 47,947 units from 52,373 units, despite high demand for SUVs. 4/10 Hyundai reported a 12 per cent drop in wholesale numbers last month, with 44,024 units sold as compared to 50,103 units recorded in June 2024. Hyundai has blamed this on the geopolitical crisis and low consumer sentiment as key factors and anticipates recovery with lower repo rates, improving liquidity and the Talegaon plant production. However, Hyundai Creta retained the crown of highest selling passenger vehicle for the third consecutive time in June 2025. 5/10 Tata Motors too posted a steep decline last month, with its wholesale volume slumping 15 per cent YoY to 37,083 units, including electric vehicles. While demand for its ICE-powered models came under pressure, the homegrown auto company noted continued strength in its EV portfolio, where it sells models like Tiago EV, Tigor EV, Punch EV, Nexon EV, Curvv EV, and recently introduced Harrier EV. 6/10 Kia recorded a three per cent YoY sales slump at 20,625 units in June 2025. The South Korean car manufacturer under the Hyundai group sells popular cars like Sonet, Seltos, Carens and Carens Clavis, among others. The car manufacturer has a presence in the Indian electric car market as well. 7/10 Honda Cars India too reported a 22 per cent sales slump with 5,124 units in June 2025, comprising 4,618 units sold in the domestic market and 506 units exported. Domestic sales of the company dropped by 3.9 per cent, while exports saw a slump of 89.8 per cent YoY. The Japanese car manufacturer sells popular models like the Amaze, City, and Elevate. 8/10 Mahinda is the only car manufacturer among the top four in the Indian passenger vehicle market that reported growth last month. The homegrown auto giant retained its second position in the sales chart last month. The automaker registered an 18 per cent YoY wholesale growth, ending the last month with 47,306 units. The OEM sells some of the popular SUVs like Thar, XUV 3XO, XUV700, Scorpio N, Bolero Neo, Scorpio Classic, Thar Roxx, etc. 9/10 Toyota Kirloskar Motor too was able to buck the trend slightly. The Japanese car manufacturer registered a modest three per cent YoY increase in June wholesales with 26,453 units. The carmaker sells popular models like the Innova Crysta, Fortuner, among others. 10/10 JSW MG Motor India charted a 21 per cent YoY sales growth in June sales numbers, with 5,829 units sold. The automaker sells models like the Hector, ZS EV, Comet, Gloster, etc. However, since the launch of the Windsor EV, MG has been witnessing continuous growth in its passenger vehicle sales. First Published Date: 03 Jul 2025, 14:10 PM IST
