India’s largest carmaker takes a giant step toward passenger safety with plans to standardize six airbags in all its vehicles.
In a move that could reshape how car buyers perceive affordability and safety, Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to make 6 airbags a standard feature across all its models, including entry-level offerings.
A Transformational Safety Shift on the Horizon
India’s best-selling automaker, Maruti Suzuki, has often faced criticism for lagging behind competitors like Tata, Mahindra, and Hyundai when it comes to safety. Now, the company is set to make a strategic shift by focusing on improved safety features, finally addressing long-standing customer concerns.
Maruti’s Plan to Standardize 6 Airbags
Having been offering just 2 airbags in most of its models for years, Maruti Suzuki is all set to roll out 6 airbags across all its vehicles. This is a significant step in the brand’s safety transformation. Maruti models like Swift, Dzire, WagonR, Alto K10, and Celerio have already begun reflecting this change in some variants, with more to come.
Though the official timeline remains to be finalized, reports indicate that this roll-out may occur within this fiscal year for both Nexa and Arena dealership franchises. This would mean all variants—be it premium or base—may soon come equipped with 6 airbags as a standard feature.
Affordable Cars, Safer Rides
What makes this initiative even more significant is that Maruti is not just stopping at its premium segment. Best-selling and affordable models such as the Baleno, Fronx, Ignis, and S-Presso are also going to receive 6 airbags. This is a game-changer for Indian buyers who have traditionally had to settle on either affordability or safety.
With 6 airbags in the pipeline for even the most affordable cars, Maruti is making car safety more democratic and showing that safety shouldn’t be a luxury.
The Sole 5-Star Maruti: Dzire Sets a Benchmark
Currently, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire is the only model in the company’s stable with a 5-star safety rating. This has served as a blueprint for what the brand aims to replicate across more models. With enhanced safety features, customer trust is likely to grow, especially among families and daily commuters looking for added reassurance on the road.
Maruti’s 5-Star Ambitions and Electric Future
In the future, Maruti Suzuki is not merely placing bets on additional airbags. Maruti Suzuki also plans to get a 5-star rating on many of its new models, including its eagerly awaited electric SUV, the E-Vitara. Leaked crash test photographs indicate that Maruti is quite serious about acing global safety standards.
Although this step will necessarily result in a minimal price hike, the customers will welcome the extra protection. Spending a little more for security could prove to be very useful, with Indian consumers becoming increasingly safety-aware.
Final Thoughts: A Bold, Welcome Move
By making 6 airbags an industry norm for all its models, Maruti Suzuki is putting out a loud message: safety is no longer a choice. This can change customer perception and compel others to up their safety game too.
This move is not just about compliance with norms—it’s about saving lives, and that’s why it is one of the most worthy measures Maruti has taken in the past few years.
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