Exclusive: New Maruti Baleno Gears Up For Big Exports Badged As Toyota Starlet And Toyota Glanza

The new second generation Maruti Suzuki Baleno has been launched in India. The premium hatchback has been a bestseller for Maruti Suzuki and indeed the segment leader on sales for several years now. The previous gen was exported from India to over 100 countries, in Europe, Latin America, Africa, South-East Asia and Japan. The model has also been shared with the Toyota Motor Corporation for sales in several global markets, including in India. carandbike has now learnt that the second generation of the Baleno hatch will once again be made only in India, but sold in most markets under the Toyota badge only.

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The second gen Maruti Suzuki Baleno will be made only in India, but it will be sold in most markets under the Toyota badge

The car is being badged Toyota Starlet for Latin America and Africa - the latter already had the first gen under that name. Only Indonesia and India are likely to retain the Suzuki Baleno badging. Sources have shared that this change is a part of the growing partnership between Toyota and Suzuki under their alliance formed in March 2019.

2022 Toyota Glanza Spotted Undisguised
Photo Credit: GaadiWaadi

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The primary reason for this strategy vis-a-vis the Suzuki Baleno is so Toyota can shore up its share of the high-volume entry segments in said markets, where currently it only sells a slightly higher priced Yaris. The Toyota Yaris hatch in fact does not sell in most of these markets, and will continue to be offered as a more premium offering where it does.

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The Baleno is rebadged as Toyota Starlet for export markets like Latin America and Africa

Maruti Suzuki has declined from making a comment on an email query sent to its HQ. However, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) India has responded on behalf of Toyota Motor Corp, saying, "The Glanza has witnessed phenomenal success ever since its launch in 2019. We have clocked over 65,000 wholesale units (In India) and registered more than 25 per cent growth in 2021 when compared to its sales in 2020. Likewise, the Glanza will continue to hold a critical position in our portfolio."

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Toyota also sells the rebadged Vitara Brezza as the Urban Cruiser, which was launched in India in 2020

This confirms that the second-generation car will arrive under the Toyota badge soon, since production of the previous gen has been discontinued. The Toyota Glanza was the first of the cross badged Suzuki cars we saw in mid-2019. The partnership was extended to the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza that was introduced as a petrol-only Toyota Urban Cruiser in August 2020.

Globally, Toyota also sells the Suzuki Ertiga MPV, rebadged as Toyota Rumion in South Africa

The Toyota Urban Cruiser and Starlet are already selling alongside the Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Baleno in South Africa and a few other markets on the continent. In India too it is the same story. TKM India says, "Both the Glanza as well as the Toyota Urban Cruiser have played a significant role in catering to 66 per cent of first-time Toyota buyers, especially in Tier II & III markets." Interestingly there's also a cross-badged version of the Suzuki Ertiga MPV called Toyota Rumion that also sells in Africa - where the Ertiga is also offered. The Toyota Rumion has not been introduced in India as yet.