Automobile
Bad News! Maruti Suzuki cars to cost more from next year
- Automaker Maruti Suzuki informed stock exchanges that it has decided to hike prices of its cars from January 2022 due to rise in input costs.
- Rise in fuel prices, commodity prices like steel, shortage of semiconductors and a possible third wave that could impact demand and production operations are some of the factors affecting the automobile industry.
- Shares of the company were trading flat at ₹7,277.55 per share on December 2.
The country’s leading automaker Maruti Suzuki has decided to hike prices of its models from January 2022 due to increase in input costs. The company said that the increase in prices shall vary for different models.
“Over the past year, the cost of company’s vehicles continue to be adversely impacted due to increase in various input costs. Therefore, it has become imperative for the company to pass on some impact of the above additional costs to customers through a price hike,” said the company in a BSE statement.
Rise in fuel prices, commodity prices like steel, shortage of semiconductors and a possible third wave that could impact demand and production operations are some of the factors affecting the automobile industry.
The company had announced price hikes in March, July and September this year.
Adding to the pain, Maruti Suzuki’s production slipped 3% to 1.45 lakh vehicles in November 2021 as compared to 1.50 lakh vehicles in November 2020.
Further, the company is expecting an adverse impact on vehicle production in December in both Haryana and its contract manufacturing company, Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited (SMG) in Gujarat. All this is because of a supply constraint of electronic components due to the semiconductor shortage situation.
Shares of the company were trading flat at ₹7,277.55 per share at 1:40 p.m., on December 2.
Automobile
Improved version of Hyundai Creta launched in Indian market: Check it out here
Hyundai India launched the much-awaited Creta Knight Edition in the country at a starting price of Rs 13.51 lakh (ex-showroom, all-India). This new variant is available in both petrol and diesel engine options and can be had either with a manual or an automatic transmission unit. To read more about the Creta Knight Edition, click here. In addition to this, the company has also introduced a model-year update for the Hyundai Creta with new feature additions.
The 2022 Hyundai Creta is now available in a new Denim Blue colour option and the Highline TPMS is now standard across all variants. The SX (O) trim now also gets a glossy black centre console. Furthermore, the company will offer the iMT option on the 1.5-litre petrol ‘S’ variant to further expand choices for the customers. The new S+ variant powered by a 1.4-litre T-GDi petrol engine with 7DCT now gets an additional set of features, such as –
– Smart panoramic sunroof
– 16-inch black alloy wheels
– Smartphone wireless charger
– Rear Disc Brakes
– Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
– Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
– Hill start assist control (HAC)
– Paddle shifters
– Metal pedals
– Electric and auto-folding ORVMs
– Power window auto up/down
Mechanically, the SUV continues to be powered by the existing petrol and diesel engine options.