Maruti Baleno export plans a major part of production

India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki plans to export about 5,000 units of the Baleno every month from the beginning of next year. An initial target of about 60,000 units for next calendar year has been set. India will be the only location for manufacture of the Baleno, which has been called the global hatchback by Suzuki.

In addition to Japan, which will be a major contributor to the sale of the India-built Balenos, most European countries will receive the car. That’s the prime reason for the unveiling of the premium hatch at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this year. The company has announced plans to export the car to over 100 countries in the future and that could see numbers breaching the 60,000 unit mark in the coming years.

We have been told that the Baleno will be built to suit the needs of the market and that could most likely see the introduction of the more powerful 90PS diesel unit in the Baleno. While company officials are mum about this higher output model joining the lineup, it seems more like a matter of when than if the engine will be introduced because the Indian media has already been vocal about the sub-par output of the diesel engine in comparison to its direct competitors.

At present, the 1.3-litre diesel engine makes 75PS of power and 190Nm of torque. This same engine develops 90PS and 200Nm in the Ertiga, Ciaz and S-Cross, and, if introduced in the Baleno, will bring its power and torque figures on par with the Jazz, i20 and Polo. Maruti could possibly have held this variant back to introduce a SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) equipped lineup at a later stage. RS Kalsi, Executive Director MSIL has said however, that there are no plans of SHVS Balenos for now.