Suzuki wants more Fiat diesel engines for the Indian market
By Andrew, 04 Dec, 2011. 0 Comments
2012 Suzuki Swift Sport
Amid the conflicts with Volkswagen, Suzuki’s alliance with Fiat becomes more intense. Their collaboration, which actually started in 2003, led to the launch of the Sedici/SX4 pair in 2006. In Europe, the SX4 is offered with a Fiat-sourced 2.0 diesel. An agreement was inked last June to offer a 1.6 diesel that will be used on the next generation of the SX4, which is presently being developed. Around 280,000 1.3 JTD four-cylinder diesels annually are produced by Maruti-Suzuki, its joint-venture in India. This output was made possible with Fiat’s license.
Suzuki’s assembly plant in Hungary receives 50,000 while the rest are kept in India. A new contract signed by Suzuki and Fiat will raise the annual production figure of Indian-built 1.3 JTDs to 380,000. This will enable Maruti-Suzuki to raise production of the Swift beginning in January 2012. The Swift is one of the top-selling cars in its category in India.
The price of the Swift had to be raised due to increasing gas prices and due to measures to prevent a shortage of diesel models and a surplus of gasoline-powered models. Suzuki’s biggest market is India. A publication, The Indian Times, said that in 2010, most passenger cars sold had a Suzuki emblem on the front. The Japanese firm holds a 54.2% of the Maruti-Suzuki joint-venture. [source: LeftLaneNews]
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