Revealed! What made Maruti Suzuki Swift lead the segment for 13 years in a row

On May 25, 2005, when Maruti Suzuki launched the Swift hatchback, the step, in a way, demonstrated its long-term plans for dominating the Indian passenger vehicle market. However, the company was also taking a risk. The reason was, during those days, there were some set notions about a small car. It had to be reliable, economical and somewhat basic in its features. Design would receive minimal attention; while a few clamoured for a bold design, it was believed the ‘mainstream’ small car customer would accept pretty much everything—from boxy shapes to bland, simple lines. That was also the time when the ‘basic’ Maruti 800 was India’s largest selling car and the Alto was gaining a slow acceptance. The Swift, however, was unlike any small car. In fact, it was anything but small. It was big on the outside, had the features of a sedan, and was priced under Rs 4 lakh. What differentiated it from other hatchback cars was its bold and aggressive design—it appealed to the young and had ample room for a family. The design had a European feel. “More than a car, it was a refreshing new thought process,” says RS Kalsi, senior executive director, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India.

The Swift also created a new segment—the upper A2—and young Indians raced to buy one. “In many ways, it was the ‘coming of age’ of the Indian middle-class buyer. In the Swift, she could hope to buy a car she had seen on European roads, and be sure it would stand up to the Indian values of being reliable and economical,” says Kalsi. In a little over one year, Maruti sold 53,171 units of the car. At that time, it already had four competitors and yet enjoyed over three-fourths market share. On January 24, 2007, the Swift got a diesel engine, and sales shot up further. By the time the second generation Swift came in August 2011, it was one of India’s largest selling cars, with total sales of 5,72,824 units in six years.

“From four players in the segment during 2005-06 to seven players in 2012-13, the Swift faced a lot of competition. But its performance and sporty looks ensured it stayed on top, undistracted,” says CV Raman, senior executive director, Engineering, Maruti Suzuki India.The second-generation Swift was even more stylish, and had more powerful yet efficient engines. Despite the competition upping its game—by 2016-17, there were 11 players in the upper A2 segment—the Swift maintained its leadership position, by far. From 2011 till 2017, it sold an unprecedented 12,02,119 units—at a little under 2 lakh units per year. “The Swift helped the Indian passenger vehicle industry grow by leaps and bounds,” adds Kalsi.