Maruti, Hyundai, Toyota gear up for launch of seven-seater models amid growing demand
Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India and Toyota Kirloskar Motor are among automakers gearing up to introduce more than half a dozen seven-seater utility vehicles over the next year to capitalise on surging demand for larger passenger vehicles, with buyers opting to travel more with families since the pandemic.
While first of the block will be the facelift version of Hyundai’s Alcazar model in early September, Maruti Suzuki and Toyota are readying seven-seater versions of the Grand Vitara and the Hyryder sport-utility vehicles respectively for launch in 2025.
Korea’s Kia too is likely to roll out a seven-seater EV based on its popular UV model, Carens next year, people said. Others include upgraded versions of MG Motor’s Gloster, Jeep’s Meridian and Kia’s Carnival models at the more premium end of the market.
While consumer demand for entry-level small cars has been falling in the Indian market, companies have been enthused by a nearly threefold surge in sales of seven-seater SUVs like Mahindra XUV700, Mahindra Scorpio, and Tata Safari (priced between Rs 15-25 lakh) over the past three years, touching 335,208 units in CY2023, prompting carmakers to rev up their plans for the segment.
There are currently about six models on sale in this category including Kia Carens, which has emerged as a more affordable option to Toyota’s best-sellers Innova and Innova Crysta.
Senior industry executives told ET the sharp increase in sales of premium vehicles in the last few years is leading to a widening base of buyers who have
