Toyota Innova and Maruti Swift Celebrate 15 Years in India

Two of the legends of the Indian car market - the Toyota Innova and Maruti Swift - have just completed 15 years of existence in the Indian car market.  

Maruti Suzuki, the Indo-Japanese automobile manufacturer, first stepped into India in 1983. Its earlier products like Maruti 800, Maruti Zen, Maruti Esteem and the Maruti Gypsy even managed to capture a great market share. However, by early 2000s, all these models felt date. In 2005, however, Maruti Swift came in as a breath of fresh air.

With a distinctive and sporty design, the Swift was soon to become a favourite of many. In fact, it was even said to be ahead of its time when it came to the unique styling design the Swift offered. Combined with a peppy engine, high frugality and affordable price tags, the Swift became a major hit from Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. And in May this year, the Maruti Swift, which is in its third generation now, has completed 15 years in our country.

Not just the Maruti Suzuki hatchback, there’s another big game-changer that celebrated its 15-year anniversary in the Indian market recently – the Toyota Innova. Launched back in India in 2005, the Toyota Innova has been a roaring success for the Japanese brand in our country, regardless of its rather high price tag. The Innova is a perfect family carrier that ensures a hassle-free long-distance road trip.

With a decade and a half of successful dominance in the Indian market, the Toyota Innova sets a benchmark for the MPV segment in India. After first few years of its launch, the Innova was selling so well that the carmaker made no update to the car for many years to come. After more than a decade of great demand, the second-gen model arrived in May 2016 as the Toyota Innova Crysta. Both the Toyota Innova and Maruti Swift continue to be the best-sellers of their respective segments. The older-gen Toyota Innova and the outgoing Maruti Swift are also popular options in the used car market and from the looks of it, the popularity of these cars should stay unaffected for years to come.