NEW DELHI ¨C For some 40 years, Suzuki cars dominated India¡¯s roads.
The Japanese company¡¯s relentless focus on keeping prices and running costs low put millions of people behind the wheel. Hatchbacks made by its Indian arm, Maruti Suzuki, commanded between half and four-fifths of the country¡¯s new car sales in recent decades.
But as Indians got richer, they gravitated toward bigger and flashier rides ¡ª and the automaker¡¯s emphasis on affordability started to become a drag. Maruti Suzuki¡¯s share of the world¡¯s third-largest auto market now lingers at around 39%, near an all-time low.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.