Maruti Suzuki Ertiga scores 12,000 bookings in Indonesia in less than a month

After enjoying resounding success in the domestic market, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, the first Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) by the largest car maker of India, has become a hit in Indonesia as well. It is said that as many as 12,000 units of the vehicle were booked in the country in less than one month of its launch, against the expected 5,000 units. The manufacturer will build the car in Indonesia using Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits, which are imported to the country from India.

Reportedly, the most popular variant among car buyers in the nation is the top end GX (55 per cent), followed by the GL (40 per cent) that is placed in the middle. Only 5 per cent of the buyers in Indonesia were interested in the GA variant of the model in the initial weeks of its launch. The booking amount for the car is 5 million Indonesian Rupiah (Rs. 30,000), while the costs of the GA, GL and GX variants stand at 143 million IDR (RS. 8.5 lac), 153 million IDR (Rs. 9 lacs) and 165 million IDR (Rs. 9.8 lacs), respectively.

Considering the excess inventories of petrol vehicles in India due to the recent hike in petrol prices, it is expected that many units of the petrol powered variants of the seven seater Ertiga will be shipped to Indonesia. The company has bolstered its monthly production capacity for the Indonesian market to meet the huge demand for the model. Nevertheless, buyers would have to wait for at least two to three months before getting their hands on the Ertiga as demand exceeds supply by a huge margin.

Seeing the demand for its Ertiga, the company is also considering launching its volume generating premium hatchback Swift in Indonesia. It is anticipated that the popular model will make its debut in the country at the Indonesia International Motors Show (IIMS) to be held in September 2012. Four all-new variants of the car are expected to break cover at the event for this market.