Last Updated:
Maruti Suzuki Chairman RC Bhargava confirmed the development during the company’s recent earnings call, saying that there will be 6 airbags in virtually all their cars this year.
Affordable models such as the Alto K10, Celerio, Wagon R, and the utilitarian Eeco van have been retrofitted with six airbags.
In a landmark shift that underscores growing regulatory and consumer emphasis on vehicle safety, Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest automobile manufacturer, has announced it will make six airbags a standard feature across its entire lineup by the end of 2025. This move marks a significant step forward for the brand, which has traditionally dominated the entry-level segment with affordable, small cars.
Chairman RC Bhargava confirmed the development during the company’s recent earnings call, saying, “We will be having 6 airbags in virtually all our cars this year,” adding, “So, from the safety point of view, the government was very keen that 6 airbags should be in all cars. We will implement this desire of the government, and that will help us.”
This means that every variant of every Maruti model – from budget hatchbacks to premium SUVs – will eventually offer the same level of airbag protection, regardless of price point.
The company has already begun rolling out the update. Affordable models such as the Alto K10, Celerio, Wagon R, and the utilitarian Eeco van have been retrofitted with six airbags. Its popular SUV, the Brezza, also now offers the safety upgrade. However, six current Maruti models still lack standard side and curtain airbags: the Baleno, Fronx, Ignis, Ertiga, XL6, and S-Presso.
According to AutoCarIndia, the Fronx and Baleno already feature six airbags in their higher trims, but entry-level variants will soon follow suit. That means prices are expected to climb. The Fronx, for instance, currently starts at Rs 7.55 lakh, and the Baleno at Rs 6.70 lakh. The Celerio’s price was raised by up to Rs 32,500 when it received the update – a pattern likely to continue with other models.
While the safety move is widely welcomed, it comes with a financial burden that has historically worried the brand. Maruti Suzuki had previously voiced concerns about the cost implications of government-mandated airbag norms.
Speaking to reporters last year, Bhargava had warned that such regulations could exacerbate the shrinking demand in the entry-level segment: “The volumes in the entry-level segment have been declining over the last couple of years, and if the costs of these products go up further, the sales will decline even more,” he reportedly said.
Maruti reported a 9 percent drop in small car sales last year. Bhargava points to broader income inequality in India as a key constraint. “Only around 12 percent of households in India earn over Rs 12 lakh annually and can consider buying a car priced at Rs 10 lakh or more,” he said, adding, “Car buying in India is largely restricted to this 12 percent. How can you expect growth when 88 percent of the country is at a level where they cannot afford these cars?”
Despite the pivot toward safer vehicles, Maruti’s leadership remains keenly focused on reviving the small car market. Bhargava emphasised that growing this segment is essential for the long-term health of India’s auto industry. “To strengthen the automobile sector in India, it is most important that the small car segment grows,” he stated. “The market is cold because only 12% of buyers can buy cars costing more than Rs 12 lakh. Therefore, cars are being bought in limited numbers,” he further said.
This balancing act – between regulatory compliance, consumer safety, and affordability – continues to define Maruti’s strategy.
While the automaker’s recent move signals a growing commitment to safety, its track record has been uneven. The 4th-generation Maruti Dzire broke new ground by earning a 5-star rating for adult occupant protection and 4 stars for child safety from Global NCAP – the highest safety score ever achieved by a Maruti model.
But others in the portfolio have fared poorly in crash tests. The Alto K10 received just 2 stars, while the Wagon R, S-Presso, and Ignis scored only 1 star each. The company hopes that the inclusion of six airbags, along with features like Electronic Stability Control and pedestrian protection systems, will significantly improve these scores and burnish the brand’s safety image.
- First Published:
