There has been a shift in car buying trend in India. The recent demand for top end variants of Maruti Swift, Maruti Swift Dzire and Maruti Ertiga suggests that India now prefers the high end trims not the low cost, no feature cars. This has become evident due to the increase in waiting period following the shortage of alloy rims for these cars. Notably, the Ertiga is already in demand following its price and most importantly being the most affordable offering in this segment and this alloy rim hiccup could further delay its delivery time in India.

The company is said to have been holding its customers by offering steel wheels instead of alloys. It is said that Maruti will be offering the top end model with all the features except the steel wheels in place of alloy wheels and this model will be offered at a price concession of Rs 25, 000 which is an amount that the customers would never like to miss. However, in order to keep the aesthetics rights, Maruti will be offering full covers on steel wheels that will make the wheels look like alloys.

As per the sources information and reports available on the internet, there is only one vendor that supplies these alloy rims to Maruti and that vendor has capacity constraints while the demand has suddenly climbed. Maruti could not import the wheels from Japan as there as well the availability is restricted. In this circumstance, the car maker has nothing but to offer the high end variants with the steel wheel with a price cut so that the price cut will retain the customer.

Meanwhile, reports on the murder at the Manesar plant has revealed that it was the General Manager who was burnt live by the workers and the tooth remains had revealed the identity of the person. The police has initiated action based on the reports and has arrested 91 worker and has framed charges on some. In the meantime production came at a standstill at the plant on Thursday as police took over the premises.