New Delhi: Maruti's premium compact car Zen is all set to ride to sunset.
According to a report published on Monday, Maruti Udyog has decided to discontinue the production of Zen as early as March 31 this year.
The report published in the Financial Express says Maruti has already asked its dealers to clear stocks of Zen from their showrooms. The company’s suppliers had been informed about the decision at least three months back.
However, MUL marketing director Kinji Saito clarified to the paper that MUL will continue to sell the model.
"It is just a temporary halt in production and it happens all the time. We have a fixed production capacity and have to meet increased demand for other models."
Saito, however, declined to comment as to when the company intended to resume production. He maintained that the Zen brand would continue to remain in the market, the report said.
Maruti Zen is a five-door hatchback launched in India by Maruti Udyog in October, 1993. The car is based on the 1991 Suzuki Cervo Mode, which is meant only for the Japanese market.
In India, Maruti Zen was the first car designed by Maruti for the worldwide market with India as its only production hub. The car's design and specifications are contemporary with world standards.
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In fact, Zen was the first Indian car to win accolades abroad, being voted the best car in its category in Belgium and the Netherlands in 1997. It was also adjudged the top car in the UK in 1997 in terms of operating costs.
Zen was the first car to have an all-aluminium engine.
Maruti sold 44,960 Zens in the calendar year 2005-06. The figure was, however, one-third less than 67,820 units it sold in the previous year.
Zen was Maruti’s second-largest selling car till the arrival of Alto, WagonR and Swift.
Interestingly, earlier there were rumours about the discontinuation of the Maruti 800 model. However, this model continues to sell in new varients even today.
Do you think Zen should be phased out?
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