NEW DELHI: Gone are those days, when automated manual transmission found its place only in the leatherette of premium cars. Breaking the norm in 2014, Maruti Suzuki introduced AMT (or as the company calls it Auto Gear Shift) in its compact hatchback, Celerio. The entire line up of entry-level offerings now employ AMT as an option.
Price and easy rideability
Even after half a decade, Celerio AGS remains appealing to the mass market, so much so, the variant registered 34% sales or the car in 2018-19. “The stop-go traffic conditions and ease of driving a two-pedal car promote choosing of automatic variants,” says India’s leading four-wheeler manufacturer.
In terms of price, the technology on board simplifies the task of the driver. Absence of manual clutch level reduces the efforts and driving turns easier. For AMT variant of the entry-level units, the price is around Rs 50,000 dearer to the manual option. Celerio VXI at Rs 4.77 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) is Rs 43,000 cheaper than its immediate AGS variant. Apart from Celerio, AMT also finds its place in the other entry-level Maruti Suzuki offerings — Alto K10, WagonR and Swift.
Entry-level models
Manual
AMT
Alto K10 VXI
Rs 3.99 lakh
Rs 4.44 lakh
Celerio VXI
Rs 4.77 lakh
Rs 5.2 lakh
WagonR VXI 1.2 L
Rs 5.1 lakh
Rs 5.57 lakh
Dzrie VXI
Rs 6.73 lakh
Rs 7.2 lakh
(Prices, ex-showroom, Delhi)
Additionally, Maruti Suzuki claims ease of maintenance has been another major contributor to AMT demand. “In the past five years, Maruti Suzuki has witnessed a 58% CAGR in the sale of cars with two-pedal technology,” Shashank Srivastava, executive director (marketing and sales), Maruti Suzuki India, said while emphasising on cost-effectiveness and awareness as the key reason behind the transition.
Meanwhile, buyers stumble while picking an automatic over manual variants based on fuel efficiency and servicing charges. Maruti Suzuki, clearing the air, asserts the difference in fuel efficiency between the automatic and manual variants is just a myth. Similarly, there is no cost differentiation in the repair and service of the two variants, the company adds.
Entry-level models
Manual (kmpl)
AMT (kmpl)
Alto K10 VXI
23.95
23.95
Celerio VXI
23.1
23.1
WagonR VXI 1.2 L
20.52
20.52
Dzrie VXI
21.21
21.21
(Mileage shown are claimed by the company)
Current scenario
The auto industry, however, is undergoing temporary paralysis with most manufacturers witnessing a plunge in passenger vehicle sales. Maruti Suzuki recently reported a 33.5% decline in sales in July to 1,09,265 vehicles compared with the same period last year. While there is a noticeable slowdown in the sales of PVs, the company refused to respond to the performance of AMT cars specifically.