The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki is mulling to locally assemble its sports utility vehicle Grand Vitara by next year, as it New SUVs to hit Indian roads
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looks to bring an advanced version of the SUV to arrest falling sales.
According to industry sources, the company which currently imports the Grand Vitara from Japan, has already started the initial process for starting assembly of the SUV, including talks with component makers for supply of parts.
"The company is seriously considering to bring in an advanced version of Vitara into India, mainly to arrest the falling sales of the SUV," a source said.
When contacted, a Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) spokesperson said, "We do not comment on our future products."
The source, however, said MSI's plans would be dependent on the market response to the advanced version of the SUV to be introduced in 2010.
Initially the company would sell the new Vitara as a completely-built-unit (CBU).
"After witnessing the demand of the vehicle for the first few months, the company will take a call on assembling it here in order to reduce the cost," the source said.
Currently CBUs attract over 100 per cent import duty, making it highly expensive and uncompetitive. Grand Vitara is available for Rs 16.67-17.97 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) with a 2.4 litre petrol engine in both manual as well as automatic transmission.
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