Maruti Suzuki India Limited has launched an innovative swivel seat option for its popular WagonR model, marking a significant step toward inclusive mobility in the mass market segment. The initiative aims to enhance accessibility for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, bringing the "Joy of Mobility" to a broader customer base.
Key Features and Specifications
The WagonR swivel seat offers several advantages designed to improve vehicle accessibility:
| Feature |
Details |
| Installation Time |
1 hour |
| Seat Type |
Replacement of original OEM seat |
| Warranty Period |
3 years |
| Compatibility |
WagonR models sold after 2019 |
| Safety Compliance |
ARAI tested and approved |
Strategic Partnership and Development
Maruti Suzuki has collaborated with Bangalore-based startup TRUE Assist Technology Private Limited under its startup incubation program with NSRCEL-IIM Bangalore. The partnership enables customers to order the swivel seat as a retrofitment kit at Maruti Suzuki Arena dealerships. The seat can be installed in new WagonR models or retrofitted in existing vehicles without modifying the car's structure or core functioning.
Market Rollout and Availability
The pilot project has been launched across strategic locations to gauge market response:
| Parameter |
Details |
| Launch Cities |
11 cities |
| Dealership Network |
Over 200 ARENA dealerships |
| Vehicle Compatibility |
New and existing WagonR models |
| Future Expansion |
Based on customer response |
Leadership Perspectives
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, emphasized the initiative's alignment with the company's vision of inclusive mobility. He highlighted that WagonR, being among India's top 10 selling models, provides an ideal platform to offer accessibility features to a wider audience.
Naina Padaki, Founder of TRUE Assist Technology Private Limited, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration, noting the inspiring customer-centric approach of Maruti Suzuki's R&D engineers. She emphasized how integrating their innovation into a mass-market model ensures that inclusive mobility becomes mainstream reality across Indian families.
Technical Specifications and Safety
The WagonR's Tall Boy design provides spacious headroom and generous legroom, making it an ideal mass-market passenger vehicle for this innovative mobility solution. The swivel seat kit has undergone comprehensive safety testing at the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and complies with required safety standards. Installation is carried out without structural modifications, ensuring vehicle integrity while providing enhanced accessibility.
Corporate Alignment and Vision
The initiative draws inspiration from Suzuki Group's corporate slogan "By Your Side" and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10, which aims to reduce inequality. This commitment reflects Suzuki group's founding spirit, mission statement, and philosophy of conduct, embodying their ongoing dedication to customer focus rooted in founder Michio Suzuki's vision. As India's leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki demonstrates its commitment to providing mobility solutions that are technologically advanced, human-centric, and environmentally responsible while addressing society's diverse needs.