Toyota has expressed a strong interest in having its own versions of Maruti Suzuki’s iconic Jimny and Swift to include in its model lineup, similar to their existing collaborations on the Baleno and Glanza, Ertiga and Rumion, and Grand Vitara and Urban Cruiser Hyryder. However, Suzuki has declined the proposal, emphasizing that the Jimny and Swift are integral to its brand identity and should not be shared as it could compromise their iconic status. According to a Suzuki source, Toyota sought to badge engineer the Jimny and Swift, but Suzuki politely refused.
Toyota’s desire for its own versions of these models is evident, especially in the case of the Jimny, which could serve as a more affordable 4×4 alternative to the expensive Fortuner. Despite lower-than-expected sales of the Jimny, with only 15,476 units sold from June to November 2023, Maruti Suzuki is not inclined to share it with Toyota solely for volume boosting.
The Swift, a consistently popular model with an average monthly sales of over 17,100 units, is also off the table for sharing due to its significance to Maruti Suzuki’s brand. However, Toyota’s interest in acquiring the Swift is understandable, given its potential to contribute significantly to sales, similar to the success of the Maruti-supplied Glanza and Rumion, which make up 25 percent of Toyota’s total monthly sales on average.
The Toyota-Maruti Suzuki partnership in India, characterized by shared models and platforms, has proven mutually beneficial, leveraging economies of scale through low-investment badge engineering exercises. This collaboration has expanded both companies’ portfolios across various price points, leading to increased sales. Additionally, Maruti will be manufacturing electric vehicles for Toyota and Suzuki’s global markets, indicating a deepening of ties between the two companies.
