Maruti Suzuki extends warranty to 3 years; Tata Motors slashes SUV prices

Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), on Tuesday announced an expansion of its warranty programmes for all its vehicles. The standard warranty has been extended to 3 years or 1,00,000 km (whichever comes first), up from 2 years or 40,000 km previously. Effective from July 9th, 2024, this enhanced coverage includes crucial components such as the engine, transmission, mechanical parts, electrical systems, and air conditioning, excluding consumables. Owners can avail free repairs at any Maruti Suzuki authorised service centre nationwide during the warranty period.

These discounts and benefits come after passenger vehicle sales remained tepid in June. According to the Federation Of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), passenger vehicle sales experienced a notable decline in June, falling by 6.77% YoY (Year-over-Year) and 7.18% MoM (Month-over-Month). Inventory levels have reached an all-time high, ranging from 62 to 67 days.

“We have introduced extended warranty packages for up to 6 years or 1,60,000 km and revised the scope of 4th year and 5th year extended warranty packages,” says Partho Banerjee, senior executive officer, Marketing & Sales, MSIL.

Furthermore, Maruti Suzuki has broadened its extended warranty options, now offering coverage up to 6 years or 160,000 km (whichever comes first), expanding from the previous limits. The company has also extended coverage for 11 high-value components beyond the standard warranty duration.

“The enhanced standard warranty and updated extended warranty packages will offer our customers added convenience and peace of mind, ultimately enhancing their overall ownership experience,” Banerjee adds.

In another development, Tata Motors achieved a milestone with over 2 million SUVs (sports utility vehicles) now driving on Indian roads, according to the company’s statement in a release. The extensive lineup of SUVs models, such as the Safari, Harrier, Nexon, Punch, and models like the Sierra and Safari from the past, played a key role in reaching this milestone. The company started with its first SUV in India, the Tata Sierra, in 1991. They then revealed India's first compact SUV concept, the Nexon, at the 2014 Auto Expo. More recently, they introduced a new type of small SUV, the Punch.

To celebrate this achievement, Tata Motors is introducing the 'King of SUVs' festival, featuring new starting prices for their flagship models, the Harrier (starting at ₹14.99 lakhs) and Safari (starting at ₹15.49 lakhs). Customers can also enjoy benefits of up to ₹1.4 lakhs on selected SUV variants during the festival, it adds.

Vivek Srivatsa, chief commercial officer of Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. said, “Our approach is to provide Indian consumers with world class SUVs that are robust, safe and technologically advanced. The achievement of the 2 million SUV sales mark is a testament to this approach."