It was earlier reported that Maruti 800 may have to be phased out by the company. The model cannot adhere to the new emission norms which would make it difficult for the company to keep the model in the market for a long time. However, there are always options available! M800 has been one of the most successful models in India. Now General Motors and Hyundai also plan to launch their 800cc models.
Maruti Alto and M800 will soon witness strong competitors in their segment. Both companies are planning to launch more fuel efficient cars that are also eco-friendly. The new models will adhere to Euro IV and Euro V norms as well.
The new 800cc model from General Motors will be built on the Spark platform. "Our existing Spark platform can produce a mini-car with a 0.8-litre engine. I am not closing the door to such a possibility for the Indian market. Particularly with the small car market expanding, a number of opportunities are being created inside one segment,” said the company’s spokesperson. The proposed 800cc Spark model will also be available in LPG and CNG versions later on.
Similarly, Hyundai is also planning to launch its 800cc model in the next three to four years. The model will be placed below Santro and will be jointly developed in Hyderabad and in Namyang by Indian and Japanese engineers respectively.
