As an automobile market, it seems that India seems to be getting close to the US. It is true that the majority of cars bought in the US market are used vehicles, and India is also getting a push in the same direction. This can be seen by an announcement made by the country’s premier automobile manufacturer Maruti Suzuki, as it is announced an increase of its user car outlets to 200. At present, the company’s used car division, True Value, is present across 132 cities in India.
True Value was launched way back in 2001, and went through a complete revamp in 2017 to present transparency and attractive offers to its customers. As a result of this transformation, larger display areas will now be visible, with a greater display of cars at its facility. If you have ever walked into a True Value outlet in the past, you would recall only 1-2 cars visible on display- all this is slated to change. Additionally, these outlets will also be integrated with a portal for customers to obtain details of any vehicle available at any one of Maruti’s True Value outlets across the country.
When asked about the latest development, Senior Executive Director, Marketing and Sales at Maruti Suzuki, Mr. RS Kalsi briefed the media about the rapid growth of the used car market, and also about customers putting their trust on top manufacturers for organized operation. He mentioned that it would be an enhanced buying experience for every customer, making the entire purchase process hassle-free.
All Maruti True Value cars are checked as per a 376-point checklist, through which a list of service jobs and refurbishments is obtained. For repair purposes, only Maruti Genuine Parts are used. Only those vehicles which are less than 7 years old and have been driven for less than one lakh kms. are considered.
At present, the other greatest competitor for Maruti Suzuki True Value is Mahindra First Choice. However, there is a difference between the two- Maruti only certifies and sells its used cars while Mahindra First Choice is open to other brands as well. While some may think that Mahindra is offering a wider pool of choices, there is another school of thought which feels it is good that Maruti is tinkering only with its vehicles, which it knows best.
So, what does the opening of 200 outlets mean for the automobile industry? Firstly, a large number of users are seriously starting to weigh the positives of a used car. Secondly, Maruti will assert its domination even further in the overall automobile market by looking to tap on the used vehicle segment as well. It is already known that the maximum number of vehicles on the road are by Maruti, so with the help of more True Value outlets, a larger number of consumers will be able to say “Yes” to a car. Times are definitely a changing- several advertisements of ‘droom.in’ that talk about feeling proud for owning a second-hand car are already on TV.
