The race isn't over yet

Can the new Dzire and Amaze rev up a slowing market?

- SWARAJ BAGGONKAR

TWO LAUNCHES SEPARATED by just a few days might just give the struggling sedan market in India the much-needed booster shot.

Car market leader Maruti Suzuki introduced a heavily updated Dzire, India's largest-selling sedan, in November. This is the fourth iteration in 16 years for the compact sedan (length less than 4 meters), which has been in continuous production since 2008 and sold over 2.7 million units. Within days, Honda followed suit with the launch of its segment rival Amaze.

The compact sedan, which was first launched in 2013, is into its third iteration and has been the highest-selling model for Honda.

Maruti aims to control at least half of the 6 lakh units per annum sedan market expected by 2030. It already enjoys 61% share of the segment. For its part, the Amaze comes with loads of changes compared to the second generation though launched at a premium over the Dzire at ₹7.99 lakh.