Maruti Omni Discontinued in India Due To Upcoming Regulations

Maruti Suzuki first made its debut in India in 1983 with the Maruti Alto. One year later, it introduced the Maruti Van which we know today as the Maruti Omni, the new name it got in 1988. It is not until 2005 that the Indian largest auto manufacturer gave the Omni the first facelift with exterior and interior alterations along with new colour paint schemes. Other than that, new variants have also been added to the Maruti Omni lineup throughout its over-35-year lifespan in India.

The BSVI emission standards will take effect on April 1, 2020. In the meantime, the new crash test norms are also quickly approaching, requiring all the models in India to be equipped with dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, etc. as standard safety features. Accordingly, auto manufacturers need to implement considerable upgrades to their current models to make them conform to forthcoming regulations. However, for the unluckier models, which for some reasons, cannot be upgraded, have to be shelved in production. The iconic Maruti Omni is one of them.

Maruti Omni has been discontinued due to its inability to adhere to the upcoming regulations.

As the Omni is one of the oldest and most popular vehicles in Maruti Suzuki’s portfolio in India with the widespread usability, the Indo-Japanese must have been extremely regretful about this decision. But it had no other resorts. The vehicle had a mono-box shape and an outdated 0.8-litre water-cooled motor which can produce a maximum power of 34 hp at 5,000 rpm and a peak torque of 59 Nm at 2,599 rpm along with an ARAI fuel mileage of 16.8 kmpl. All of these contribute to the end of its life after the long presence in India. The last Omni models were manufactured on March 25, 2019.

Also read - Maruti Omni To Be Phased Out By 2020, Will Be Replaced By The Eeco

The second-gen Maruti Alto 800 will have the same fate but in a different scenario from the Omni. Since its launch in 2012, it has been a powered by a 0.8-litre F8D SOHC petrol motor, generating 48 bhp at 6,000 rpm against 69 Nm at 3,500 rpm with a fuel mileage od 24.7 kmpl in the regular version and 33.44 kmpl in the CNG version.

Maruti Suzuki’s cars with the 0.8-litre motor are being discontinued and there is no exception for the Alto 800, but a little different from the Omni. The new-gen Alto has been spotted testing several times before its official debut by the festive season of 2019. Based on the Concept Future S debuted at 2018 Auto Expo, once launched, the new Alto will come with a straight-up stance with and also maintaining its nature as a small hatchback. 

Another Maruti model to be discontinued is the Maruti Alto 800.

Also read - Maruti Omni, Gypsy, Mahindra Xylo & more- Cars To Be Discontinued in 2019

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