Given the ongoing supply chain-related issues that has hit the automotive industry, lengthy waiting periods have become a fairly common thing, more so for models that are already in high demand. The country’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, thus has an average waiting period of at least two to three months on most models, particularly its automatic and CNG variants.
- Maruti Ertiga CNG has highest waiting period of 36-40 weeks
- Models such as Wagon R, Dzire and Swift have at least three months waiting
- Maruti Alto 800 has the least waiting period of two to six weeks
Maruti Ertiga, Wagon R CNG see highest waiting period
With petrol and diesel prices hitting the roof, CNG, of course, has been gaining popularity among car buyers. In December 2021, we had reported that Maruti Suzuki had an order backlog of 1.2 lakh CNG-powered vehicles, and three months since, the situation hasn’t improved much.
CNG variants of Maruti Suzuki’s popular people mover, the 7-seater Ertiga, is seeing its waiting period soar up to 36-40 weeks. Next up, Maruti Suzuki's much-loved city runabout – Wagon R CNG – currently has buyers waiting for 14-20 weeks.
Other popular CNG models such as the S-Presso and the Eeco also have an average waiting period of 12-16 weeks. This, of course, is also compounded by a demand-supply mismatch due to the continuing chip shortage.
Other Maruti car, SUVs also see a rise in waiting period
Besides CNG variants, other popular Maruti Suzuki models that usually are in high demand are also plagued by lengthy waiting periods. For instance, the Wagon R 1.0 and 1.2 petrol-manual variants have waiting period of up to eight weeks, while AMT variants have it doubled up to 16 weeks. The Wagon R also received a mid-life update recently, with new colours and Dualjet engines. Meanwhile, petrol variants of the Ertiga also have a waiting period of up to 10 weeks.
Similarly, petrol-manual version of the Swift, Dzire and Vitara Brezza have an average waiting period of 10-12 weeks, while their automatic counterparts go up to 12-18 weeks. Even Maruti’s all-new Baleno, which has already raked up over 50,000 bookings, currently has a waiting period of three to four months, depending on variant and stock availability. Besides the huge demand, some of this is obviously down to the supply chain issue.
Model Waiting period | Maruti Ertiga CNG 36-40 weeks | Maruti Ertiga AT 8-10 weeks |
Maruti Ertiga MT 2-10 weeks | Maruti Wagon R CNG 14-20 weeks | Maruti Wagon R AMT 14-16 weeks |
Maruti Wagon R MT 4-8 weeks | Maruti S-Presso CNG 12-16 weeks | Maruti S-Presso AMT 10-12 weeks |
Maruti S-Presso MT 10-12 weeks | Maruti Swift AMT 12-18 weeks | Maruti Swift MT 4-10 weeks |
Maruti Dzire AMT 12-14 weeks | Maruti Dzire MT 6-12 weeks | Maruti Vitara Brezza AT 8-10 weeks |
Maruti Vitara Brezza MT 4-10 weeks |
Upcoming Maruti Suzuki launches: 2022 and beyond
Fuelled by great demand, Maruti Suzuki is now looking to introduce factory-fitted CNG kits on its entire model range, including the Nexa products. Going ahead, there will be CNG variants of the all-new Baleno, Ciaz, Swift and even the Vitara Brezza. Maruti has also lined up mid-life updates for the Ertiga and XL6 MPVs, which, apart from cosmetic changes, will also receive a new 6-speed automatic gearbox in order to meet the upcoming CAFÉ norms.
However, the most important of all upcoming Maruti models is the all-new Creta-rivalling midsize SUV that is being developed in collaboration with Toyota. It was recently spotted testing for the first time on our roads and is expected to go on sale around the festive season this year.
Maruti Suzuki is also readying a new-gen Alto, and which is planned for the end of the year. Lastly, the Jimny is expected to make its way into Maruti Suzuki showrooms sometime next year.
Would you be willing to put up with such lengthy waiting period for Maruti models, or would you look elsewhere? Let us know in the comments below.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Suraj Viswanathan
Hormazd Sorabjee
