Maruti's order backlog reaches 1.65 lakh units as of September 2024

Maruti Suzuki continues to dominate the Indian market, and it's no surprise to hear about the growing backlog of pending orders due to the high demand for its vehicles across the country. As of September, the company’s order backlog has reached around 1.65 lakh units. Even in August, the waiting period for its cars ranged from just one week to up to 30 weeks, depending on the model. This backlog isn’t just a small issue—there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. So, let's dive deeper and take a closer look at what’s driving this situation

Maruti Suzuki sees high demand for CNG models

It's clear that the more orders an automaker has, the longer the waiting period for its models tends to get. For Maruti Suzuki, a significant part of its order backlog in September came from its CNG models, which made up 40% of the 1.65 lakh pending orders. Among the company's popular models, the 7-seater Ertiga stands out, showing impressive growth with a year-on-year increase of 51%. This model continues to lead in the 7-seater segment, showcasing its strong demand.

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Backlog could lead to a longer wait for the new model

Maruti Suzuki is gearing up for the launch of the next-generation Dzire, which has already been a popular compact sedan in their lineup. The upcoming facelift version is expected to catch even more attention, offering modern features, including a sunroof. The launch is likely to take place after Diwali. As they plan for this new release, it's important for Maruti Suzuki to address their existing order backlog. If there are many pending orders, it could be challenging to start taking new orders for the updated Dzire. To manage this, Maruti might need to either adjust the launch date, delay the start of new bookings, or extend delivery times. Each of these options comes with its own challenges and potential drawbacks

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Clearing up space for the new model could help avoid long waiting times, which might discourage customers and lead them to explore other options. While it's understandable that such delays can happen with a big brand like Maruti, it's important that they focus on minimizing the backlog, even if they can't completely clear it before the launch.