Maruti’s AMT automatic cars a huge hit; over 3 lakh sold so far as Indian car buyers choose AMT

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the country’s largest selling carmaker, recently announced that it has sold more than three lakh units of AMT-equipped cars since this technology was first launched in 2014. The first Maruti car to get an AMT (AGS in Maruti speak) was the Celerio hatchback. Today, Maruti offers an AMT on as many as seven of its cars – Alto K10, WagonR, Celerio, Swift, Ignis, Dzire and Vitara Brezza.

As per the data shared with us by the company, a large number of buyers of the aforementioned Maruti cars opt for an AMT. According to official figures, as many as 43% of Celerio hatchbacks that are being sold have an AMT. Even 28% of Ignis hatchbacks and 17% of Dzire compact sedans are equipped with AMT. Moreover, the company claims that the popularity of AMT-equipped Maruti Suzuki cars has tripled in FY 2017-18, as compared to FY 2014-15. The company now aims to sell more than 2 lakh AMT-equipped cars in the current fiscal.

Maruti Suzuki was the Indian car manufacturer to have introduced an AMT on a mass-market model. The Celerio AMT was followed by AMT-equipped cars from other manufacturers, which included Tata Nano, Nissan Terrano, Renault Kwid, Mahindra TUV300 and so on.

Commenting on the success of the Auto Gear Shift technology from Maruti Suzuki, Mr R S Kalsi, Senior Executive Director (Marketing and Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “At Maruti Suzuki, we believe in providing our customers with the best of technology and convenience. The revolutionary Auto Gear Shift technology is one such innovation that offers comfort and ease of driving to the customers with no compromise on fuel efficiency. It has achieved wide acceptance among customers. Crossing 3-lakh retail sales mark within five years of its introduction is a reflection of the success and consent of the customers for the two-pedal technology. With enhanced awareness and deeper penetration, we aim to sell over 200,000 cars with AGS in 2018-19.”