Maruti Suzuki Jimny to be exported from India now

Maruti Suzuki India Limited has officially announced the production of the Suzuki Jimny in India. The Suzuki Jimny is solely meant for export purpose. The car maker has announced that the first lot of 184 Jimnys will be shipped to Latin America, the Middle East and African markets.

India is now the production base for the Jimny as Suzuki stated that it is aiming to ‘leverage Maruti Suzuki’s global production stature’. The reason for moving the production of the Jimny to India is due to the overwhelming demand for the model globally. The model that is being manufactured in Gurugram is identical to the specification the Japanese plant is churning out.

All Jimnys built in India will use the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. The vehicle is to be offered with the choice of a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic with selectable 4×4.

The company claims that the worldwide demand for the off-roader is well beyond its manufacturing capacity in Japan. The Indian facility in Gurugram, Haryana operated by Maruti will supplement the capacity to meet the global demand.

The latest-generation of the Suzuki Jimny made its debut in 2018. Ever since, the 4×4 vehicle has been rumoured to be launched in India. Maruti Suzuki even showcased the Jimny Sierra at the 2020 Auto Expo, but it was not meant for the Indian market.

Maruti Suzuki claims that it has no plans to launch the Jimny in the Indian market. Sources suggest that the Jimny would cannibalise into the sales of the S-Cross and other models within a similar price range. If rumours are to be believed, Maruti Suzuki is said to be working on a five-door Jimny for the Indian market.