Iconic car brand AXES high-tech sedan after nearly a decade – but hints at comeback with a twist
A POPULAR car model that hit the road nearly a decade ago has officially been discontinued after years of falling sales and growing competition.
First launched in 2014, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz was designed to take on rivals like the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, and Skoda Slavia.
While it saw early success, it struggled to keep pace as other models introduced newer technology and more features.
Sales dropped steadily year after year, from 15,869 unites in FY22 to just 8,402 unites in FY25.
The lack of major updates and the rising demand for SUVs contributed to its decline.
Today, SUVs make up 55 per cent of India’s car market, while sedans account for just 10 per cent.
Despite production being halted, the car’s name may not be gone for good.
“We have decided to halt production and will reassess based on market demand,” said Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer of Marketing and Sales.
A senior company executive did hint, however, that the band could return in a new form.
“From time to time, based on the market needs and feedback of the customers, we keep on revalidating our product portfolio,” he added.
Explaining that strong models often evolve to suit market needs, drawing comparisons to the Baleno, once sedan, now one of the country’s top-selling hatchbacks after its reintroduction in 2015.
The discontinued sedan was powered by a 1.5 litre smart hybrid petrol engine and offered both manual and automatic gearboxes.
It was priced between Rs 9.4 lakh and Rs 12.47 lakh.
In March 2025, the car saw a 14.5 per cent rise in monthly sales compared to the previous year.
But that couldn’t reverse the overall decline, with FY25 sales down nearly 19 per cent year-on-year.
At the same event, the automaker reiterated its commitment to a broad lineup across fuel types, including petrol, CNG, mild hybrids, and strong hybrids — as well as upcoming electric vehicles.
Its first electric model, the e-Vitara, is on the way.
Ahead of its launch, the brand is working to build EV infrastructure and improve support services to make electric ownership more practical for Indian buyers.
Executives say the focus now is on expanding the range of mid and large SUVs and MPVs, while preparing for a future built on electric and hybrid technology.