Maruti Suzuki to Offer Six Airbags as Standard Across All Models

Maruti Suzuki, India’s leading car manufacturer, has officially announced that all its vehicles will soon come equipped with six airbags as a standard feature. The confirmation came during the company’s latest earnings call, where Chairman R.C. Bhargava shared the update. This marks a major shift in Maruti’s approach to vehicle safety, aligning with global safety norms.

Potential Price Hike on the Cards

While the safety enhancement is welcome, it may come at a cost. Bhargava indicated that the addition of six airbags across the lineup could lead to an increase in vehicle prices. Typically, upgrades in safety and other equipment result in higher production costs, which may be passed on to consumers. This raises the question of whether Maruti Suzuki will announce another round of price hikes soon.

Small Car Segment Crucial to India’s Auto Market

During the call, Bhargava highlighted a significant challenge facing the Indian auto sector—the weakening demand in the small car segment. He pointed out that only 12% of Indian car buyers can afford vehicles priced above ₹12 lakh. This affordability gap has impacted overall car sales, especially in the budget category. Bhargava attributed the decline to the rising cost of regulatory mandates, which have made small cars more expensive and less accessible to the average buyer.

Decline in Budget Car Sales

According to Bhargava, small car sales have seen a 9% decline, largely due to the increased costs stemming from mandatory safety and emission regulations. As budget-conscious buyers find it harder to afford entry-level vehicles, Maruti Suzuki is aiming to balance safety upgrades while trying to keep its models affordable.

Models Already Updated with Six Airbags

Several Maruti Suzuki vehicles have already been equipped with six airbags. These include the:

• Eeco

• Alto K10

• Celerio

• Brezza These models now offer enhanced safety without compromising on value, reinforcing Maruti’s commitment to making safety accessible.

Models Awaiting the Update

Despite the progress, some popular Maruti models still await the six-airbag update. These include:

• Baleno

• Fronx

• Ertiga

• Ignis

• XL6

• S-Presso Currently, the Baleno and Fronx—sold under Maruti’s premium Nexa brand—offer six airbags only in their top-end variants. This partial rollout suggests that a full transition to six airbags as standard is still underway.

New Dzire Sets a Safety Benchmark

Maruti Suzuki’s safety ambitions received a boost with the launch of the latest-generation Dzire. The compact sedan became the first Maruti vehicle to earn a 5-star rating for adult occupant safety and a 4-star rating for child safety in Global NCAP crash tests. The Dzire comes equipped with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and pedestrian protection features as standard. This achievement sets a new benchmark for other Maruti models to follow.

Balancing Safety and Affordability

Maruti Suzuki’s move to make six airbags standard is a significant step toward safer mobility in India. However, the challenge lies in maintaining affordability, especially for entry-level and mid-segment buyers. As regulatory requirements grow stricter, automakers must find cost-effective ways to implement safety features without pricing out a majority of consumers.

Conclusion

Maruti Suzuki’s decision to standardize six airbags across its entire portfolio reflects its focus on safety and its efforts to meet evolving consumer expectations and regulatory standards. As the Indian automotive market matures, such measures are crucial in building consumer trust and driving long-term growth.