By Maruti Suzuki is on a mission to alleviate the extended waiting periods that have become a common woe for prospective car buyers. Among its popular models, the seven-seat MPV, Ertiga, has experienced a significant reduction in waiting times, a welcome relief for eager customers. In recent months, Maruti Suzuki has been diligently working to tackle the waiting period issue for some of its most sought-after models, including the Ertiga, Brezza, Swift, and Dzire. The most substantial improvement has been witnessed in the Ertiga lineup, particularly in the case of CNG variants, which historically faced the longest waiting periods, often stretching beyond a year. The primary culprits were the semiconductor shortage and a scarcity of certain CNG-related components that persisted over the past three years.
However, Maruti Suzuki’s relentless efforts to address these supply chain challenges and boost production capacity have yielded positive results. The waiting period for the Ertiga CNG variants has been slashed by nearly half, now standing at approximately six to seven months, compared to the previous agonizing wait of up to one year. This development marks a significant step towards improving the overall customer experience. While the waiting times for CNG versions have significantly improved, Maruti Suzuki acknowledges that it may take a bit more time to achieve similar reductions in waiting periods across all its models.
The Ertiga, in particular, has proven to be exceptionally popular, accumulating close to 1 lakh bookings. In August of the current year, it was reported that the MPV alone had pending orders for 93,000 units, underscoring its immense appeal in the Indian market. Interestingly, the overwhelming demand for the badge-engineered version of the Ertiga, known as the Toyota Rumion CNG, led to its temporary discontinuation due to the extended waiting period for the three-row model. Maruti Suzuki’s commitment to enhancing customer satisfaction by addressing waiting periods demonstrates its dedication to meeting the ever-growing demand for its vehicles in India’s competitive automotive landscape.
