Maruti Suzuki's Jimny won't get 2WD

Maruti Suzuki has dismissed the idea of introducing a more affordable two-wheel-drive (2WD) version of the Jimny SUV. Launched in June 2023 as the successor to the popular off-roader Gypsy in India, the compact Jimny, redesigned into a five-door model for the Indian market, has not gained significant traction in sales, hovering around the 3,000-unit monthly range. Despite customer interest, Maruti Suzuki remains firm in its decision, expressing concerns that a Jimny 2WD variant could compromise the brand's value.

The sluggish sales of the Jimny can be mainly attributed to two factors – its deliberate positioning as an off-roader and a slightly optimistic pricing, ranging from Rs 12.84 lakh to Rs 14.89 lakh, ex-showroom. In contrast, the Mahindra Thar, initially launched as a 4x4, later introduced a 4x2 variant, which garnered significant customer interest.

Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Director, Sales and Marketing at Maruti Suzuki India, explained, "While we've received feedback from numerous customers requesting a 2WD variant of the Jimny, it would contradict the core brand ethos of the Jimny."

“Globally, the Jimny is recognized as an off-roader, and introducing a two-wheel drive variant would dilute the brand. Therefore, a 2WD Jimny is not actively being considered, and we will continue offering the 4WD version,” stated Srivastava during a press conference on December 1, reaffirming our earlier report on the absence of a 2WD Jimny.

In an effort to boost the somewhat sluggish sales of the Jimny, Maruti Suzuki offered discounts of up to Rs 1 lakh during Diwali. As of December, the carmaker has implemented a more aggressive strategy, reducing prices of entry-level manual-transmission variants by Rs 2 lakh for a limited period, now available at Rs 10.74 lakh, ex-showroom.

Srivastava explained that initial production was skewed towards manual variants due to limited availability of components for automatic versions, leading to significant discounts. However, he noted that the supply chain has since substantially improved.

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