Almost three decades after fuelling the Indian dream of owning an affordable modern car, the Maruti 800 may finally be headed to the history books by end of this year.

By December-January this year, Maruti Suzuki is expected to stop production of the erstwhile 800 model, as it awaits the launch of a replacement built on the Alto platform to hit the roads in 2012, sources close to the development said.

“The company has already given an indication to its suppliers that production of the Maruti 800 would stop from around December. They will launch a replacement in the segment, which is expected to be positioned a little above the outgoing model,” an industry source said.

Another industry official confirmed the development.

The replacement model, to be priced below the largest selling car in the country – Alto is mostly being developed by Maruti's in-house R&D team. Expected to be launched by the middle of next year, it will be Maruti's new entry product and help in generating high volumes.

Maruti, among the oldest carmakers in the market with an almost 50 per cent share, had first started production at Gurgaon in 1984 with the 800. Over the years, this model had seen a few refreshments, though the platform had largely remained the same. Sales of the 800 had been stopped in the top 13 cities after the new emission laws (Bharat Stage IV) became effective in the same regions last year.

Biggest competitor

Incidentally, Maruti's biggest competitor in the small car space — Hyundai — is also expected to launch its own 800cc small car very soon. Codenamed the H800 and positioned below the Santro, it is rumoured to be called the ‘Eon' and could sport a diesel engine as well.

> roudra.b@thehindu.co.in

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