Versa aims to create its own niche

R.Y. Narayanan

COIMBATORE, Oct. 31

MARUTI'S multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) Versa is aimed at creating a niche market of its own and it is not in competition with the multi-utility vehicles (MUVs) already in the market.

Versa is also not expected to cannibalise the market share of MUL's popular Omni Van because of the steep difference in price between the two, according to Mr Rakesh Srivastava, Regional Manager (South), Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL), Chennai.

He said the new model would be in direct competition to the cars in the` C' segment like Ford Ikon. Besides, it will also attract the existing owners of Maruti cars such as Zen and Wagon R in the `B' segment wishing to upgrade to the `C' segment.

Speaking to presspersons here on Wednesday at the launch of Maruti Versa, he said Versa would fill the gap in the MPV segment.

He said there was a qualitative difference between MPV and MUV segments in which the Tata's Sumo, Toyota's Qualis and a few others figured.

The Versa MPV claims to be suited for all kinds of terrains. Also, MPVs are popular in the US, Europe and Japan.

Mr Srivastava said the Versa model offered the value of `two cars for the price of one'. While most `C' segment vehicles could comfortably seat four passengers, Versa could accommodate eight passengers. Its three variants come in the price range of a `C' segment car - the ex-showroom price in Coimbatore is Rs 5.32 lakh (DX model), Rs 5.62 lakh (DX 2) and Rs 5.97 lakh (SDX).

He said his company hoped to sell 9,000 Versas in the current fiscal and added that there was no plan at present to bring out any diesel powered Versa.

Answering a question as to whether he expected the latest offering from Maruti to cannibalise the market share of its popular Omni Van, he said the customer profile of both vehicles was different.

The price differential of more than Rs 2.5 lakh between the two would ensure that Omni's market share stays intact. Besides, the Omni van is powered by an 800 CC engine whereas Versa is a 1300 CC engine.

Pic.: The new Versa MPV