Maruti Baleno "exported to US"

"cuts_off_prius" (cutsoffprius)
05/03/2016 at 15:21 • Filed to: None

This caught me off guard. Probably just testing. And this is the worst time to introduce a small hatchback to the US anyway. We need to get Torch on this though!

After exporting the Baleno to Japan and Europe, Maruti Suzuki has started exporting the car to the United States of America , Australia and New Zealand. For these markets, the company has opted to use its 1,373cc, 4-cylinder (K14B) petrol engine with manual and automatic transmissions.

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The Baleno is expected to be launched in Australia in the third quarter of 2016, while in New Zealand, the car is scheduled to be introduced in the second half of the year. Suzuki had pulled out of the US market in 2012.

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EDIT:

more sources:

While exports to Australia and New Zealand were expected since market launch of the Baleno for both these countries has been confirmed, what really comes as a surprise is that the Indian subsidiary has shipped the car to the United States as well.

To be specific, Maruti Suzuki has shipped three units of the Baleno to USA. All three units feature the company’s K14B 1.4-litre petrol engine, just like those shipped to Australia and New Zealand. The logical speculation that can be made out of this is that the Baleno is probably being shipped to USA for some R&D work.

This is because Suzuki Motor of America and even Suzuki Canada, the company’s USA and Canadian subsidiaries respectively, no longer sell automobiles. They sell only motorcycles and marine and power products. A comeback is unlikely to happen anytime soon, especially not with a B-segment hatchback. Mexico is the only North American market where Suzuki sells automobiles as well.

http://indianautosblog.com/2016/05/maruti…

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DISCUSSION (4)

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > cuts_off_prius
05/03/2016 at 15:23

Wait, so Suzuki being dead in north america wasn’t true after all?

LongbowMkII > cuts_off_prius
05/03/2016 at 15:24

Direct sales? I can't imagine a dealer wants to start a relationship for a single low margin hatchback...

punkgoose17 > cuts_off_prius
05/03/2016 at 18:44

I wonder if they are hot weather testing at Davis Dam. I cannot think of any other reasons to specifically test a car in the U.S.

Crazy idea future Chrysler cars will be Suzukis because Suzuki engineers really good cars.

ranwhenparked > cuts_off_prius
05/03/2016 at 19:46

Definitely just here for testing. The time for Maruti to enter the US was when Suzuki was still selling cars here, though it’s not like they had the product yet.

Of course, the Baleno is shaped just right to allow them to trick Americans into thinking its a crossover. Add some plastic cladding and roof rails, and it would sell just fine. Look at the XV CrossTrek.