'People's Car' M800 by 2016 Maruti to phase out

Maruti Suzuki India said it will bring the curtains down on its once bread-and-butter car Maruti 800 starting next year, even as one of the most anticipated cars in recent times, Nano, hit the showrooms.

Maruti 800 has sold over 27 lakh units since its launch in 1983 would take a bow along with the company's second oldest model, Omni.

"Once Euro-IV emission norms is applied across the country, which is likely to happen around 2015-16, then M800 and Omni may not be a salable product. We will have to eventually phase (them) out then," MSI Chairman R C Bhargava told PTI.

Meanwhile, Tata Motors' Nano, the Rs one lakh car, arrived at showrooms to a reception usually given to movie stars. Thousands of people thronged showrooms across the country to catch a glimpse of the people's car. Nano to be sold in Delhi would cost Rs 1.23 lakh (ex-showroom for the base version).

Maruti, however, ruled out upgrading its M800, whose base version costs Rs 1.93 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), and Omni to meet new emission norms.

In the initial phase, the two models will be done away with in 11 cities from next year, where the Bharat Stage-IV emission norms (which is equivalent to Euro-IV norms) will become applicable.

Sorce: India Times