Maruti adds a new feature to WagonR for the comfort of senior citizens

Maruti Suzuki India on Wednesday announced the launch of the WagonR with an optional swivel seat, aimed at improving accessibility and travel convenience for seniors and persons with disabilities. According to the company, this is a step towards promoting inclusive mobility in the mass passenger vehicle segment.The swivel seat is designed to facilitate entry and exit for passengers with reduced mobility. The automaker has rolled out the swivel chair on a pilot basis in 11 cities through over 200 Maruti Suzuki ARENA dealerships. Based on customer responses, the initiative is expected to be expanded to more cities.

Maruti Suzuki said the initiative stems from Suzuki Group’s ‘By Your Side’ philosophy and aligns with efforts to reduce inequality and expand access to mobility.

Customers can order the swivel seat as a retrofit kit from ARENA dealers, the automaker said. It can be installed in new WagonR models or retrofitted to existing vehicles, without replacing the original OEM seat or changing the structure of the car. Installation takes about an hour, the company said.

Speaking about the initiative, Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India, said that the WagonR is among the top ten best-selling models in India and it is ideal to bring swivel seat accessibility feature to a wider audience. “This initiative reflects our vision of inclusive mobility and reinforces our commitment to customer-centric solutions that give people dignity, independence and confidence in their daily journeys. It fully aligns with our motto of bringing ‘Joy of Mobility’ to as many people as possible,” he said.

Maruti Suzuki has partnered with Bengaluru-based startup TRUEAssist Technology Private Limited for the project under its startup incubation program with NSRCEL-IIM Bangalore.

The company said the WagonR’s big boy design provides ample head and legroom, making it suitable for the swivel seat solution. The swivel seat set has undergone safety testing by the Automotive Research Association of India and meets the required safety standards. There is a three-year warranty against manufacturing defects.