The newly launched Life Utility Vehicle Ertiga by the largest car manufacturer in India Maruti Suzuki has gathered more than 40,000 bookings within two months of its launch. The LUV was launched in April 2012 and currently has a long waiting period for delivery with 90 percent bookings for the diesel version of the car model.
The Ertiga LUV is the company’s first multi utility SUV-sedan crossover in India and was launched with an investment of Rs 400 crore. More than 11,000 units of the Ertiga have been delivered with about 30,000 units still in the waiting period.
While Nissan has already announced the launch of the Evalia MPV by the end of 2012, other carmakers such as General Motors and Hyundai are also considering developing and launching similar products in India.
The Indian auto industry is however apprehensive about the proposed higher excise duty on diesel cars while will curb the diesel driven sale of vehicles in India, the verdict on which will be out by July 2012.