Maruti Suzuki to Hike Car Prices Amid Rising Commodity Costs; 1.75 Lakh Deliveries Pending

• Maruti Suzuki India is considering increasing vehicle prices due to a significant rise in commodity costs, especially precious metals.
• Despite strong market demand and record bookings (2.78 lakh in January), 1.75 lakh vehicle deliveries are currently pending due to production bottlenecks.
• The company aims to absorb costs but may pass the burden to customers if increases exceed a certain limit.
• A 'Price Protection Scheme' was launched for customers with pending bookings, ensuring they get the old price.
• Maruti Suzuki expects the automotive industry to grow 6-7% annually, aided by GST 2.0 reforms and increased infrastructure spending.

Why It Matters: Maruti Suzuki plans potential price hikes due to rising costs, facing production delays despite high demand.