Maruti Suzuki India has achieved a remarkable milestone in the global automotive industry, securing the eighth position worldwide among automakers by market capitalization. The company's market value has soared to an impressive $57.60 billion, outpacing several international automotive giants.

Market Cap Milestone

Maruti Suzuki has surpassed well-established global players in market capitalization:

• Ford Motor: $46.30 billion
• General Motors: $57.10 billion
• Volkswagen: $55.70 billion

This achievement places Maruti Suzuki in an elite group of automotive companies, trailing behind industry leaders such as:

1. Tesla: $1.47 trillion
2. Toyota: $314.00 billion
3. BYD: $133.00 billion
4. Ferrari: $92.70 billion
5. BMW: $61.30 billion
6. Mercedes-Benz Group: $59.80 billion

Notably, Maruti Suzuki's market capitalization now exceeds that of its Japanese parent company, Suzuki, which stands at $29.00 billion.

Stock Performance and Driving Factors

Maruti Suzuki's stock has demonstrated impressive performance, rallying 25.5% since August. This surge has been attributed to several factors:

• Improved investor sentiment following indirect tax reforms announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Benefits from the revamped GST regime implemented on September 22
• Strong market demand and sales performance

The company's share price has seen a significant increase:

This growth outpaced the Nifty Auto index, which gained 11% during the same period.

Recent Business Performance

Maruti Suzuki has been experiencing robust demand since the implementation of the new GST regime:

• Daily bookings have reached 18,000 units
• The company is receiving approximately 80,000 daily inquiries
• Booking growth in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities is close to double following GST rate cuts

GST Impact

The GST rate cuts that took effect on September 22 have had a significant impact on Maruti Suzuki's sales:

• GST rates on vehicles were reduced to 18% and 40% from previous rates of 28-31% and 43-50% respectively
• Small cars in the 18% GST category showed particularly strong response, with price reductions of 8.5%
• The company plans to launch a finance product allowing customers to own entry-level cars for ₹1,999 per month

Inventory and Demand

While dealer inventory is currently sufficient, waiting periods for some variants are expected soon due to the surge in demand.

Investor Interest

Foreign portfolio investors have shown increased interest in Indian auto stocks, with Maruti Suzuki emerging as a key beneficiary. This heightened investor attention has contributed to the company's strong market performance and valuation growth.

The remarkable ascent of Maruti Suzuki in global market capitalization rankings, coupled with the significant boost in bookings following GST rate cuts, underscores the company's strong market position and investor confidence in its future prospects. As the Indian automotive market continues to evolve, Maruti Suzuki's performance will be closely watched by industry observers and investors alike.

Maruti Suzuki 's latest offering in the MPV segment, the Invicto, has achieved a significant milestone in vehicle safety. The model has been awarded a 5-star safety rating by the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP), underscoring the automaker's commitment to passenger safety.

Impressive Safety Scores

The Maruti Suzuki Invicto demonstrated exceptional performance in the BNCAP tests:

The MPV excelled in specific test categories:

Comprehensive Safety Features

The Invicto comes equipped with an array of standard safety features, including:

• Six airbags
• Suzuki Connect with eCall functionality
• Front and rear disc brakes
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Electronic parking brake with auto hold
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with hill hold assist
• 3-point ELR seat belts
• Isofix child seat anchorage
• 360-degree view camera

Management's Perspective

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO of Maruti Suzuki India, emphasized the company's focus on safety, stating, "Safety has always been central to our product philosophy." Takeuchi also commended BNCAP for establishing high-quality testing protocols in India, aligning with the company's commitment to vehicle safety standards.

The 5-star BNCAP rating for the Maruti Suzuki Invicto not only highlights the vehicle's robust safety features but also reinforces the automaker's dedication to producing vehicles that meet stringent safety standards. This achievement is likely to bolster consumer confidence in the Invicto and potentially influence the broader MPV market in India.