With about 2 weeks left for the launch of the new Maruti Suzuki Swift, 40,000 bookings have been made for the car yet to be unveiled. Though the specifications for the car have not been disclosed, it has been speculated that it would offer better fuel efficiency and cabin space, which would be an incentive for customers to upgrade to the new Swift. Better fuel economy and low running cost of the diesel powered engines are seen to be driving the demand for automobiles in the Indian car market.
Maruti Suzuki, which accounts for about half of the car sales in India, has suffered production losses in the month of July 2011. It has put the old model of the Swift on hold to ensure a smooth production process for the new Swift. This has resulted in a reduction in output by 17,000 units compared to the output in July 2010. The company expects a boost in sales with the launch of the new car. The 40,000 bookings for the car, three weeks before the launch, show that its demand is very high. When compared with the Toyota Etios Liva which was launched on June 27, 2011, the bookings for the new Swift are much higher. The Etios Liva hatchback has registered around 4,000 booking in the five weeks since its launch.