Maruti launches Autocard for customers

New Delhi, Apr 19: Catering to a five million strong base of car owners, the country's largest carmaker Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) today unveiled its Maruti Suzuki Autocard, offering its existing and new customers a host of benefits under its 'Loyalty cum Rewards Programme'.

Maruti Udyog has tied up with global financial service provider Citibank and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to launch the programme which rewards Maruti Suzuki car owners for all expenditure incurred at Maruti outlets and Indian Oil fuel outlets.

''The company's loyalty and rewards programme is designed to benefit existing as well as new customers. They can earn and redeem points from their normal car-related and lifestyle expenditure and can also cash in on the scheme when they buy their next Maruti Suzuki car,'' Maruti Udyog Ltd Managing Director Jagdish Khattar told reporters here.

Maruti car owners can earn a total of 20,000 Autopoints in four years with each Autopoint being valued at Rupee one. The accumulated Rs 20,000 can be used as additional discount by the customer while buying his next Maruti Suzuki car.

The points can also be redeemed by customers when they get their car serviced at Maruti Suzuki workshops or while purchasing a genuine Maruti Accessory.

The customer can also redeem the points while exchanging his existing Maruti Suzuki car for a new one from the same stable.

''With over 15,000 retail outlets of the IndianOil Group, the company is glad to be associated as Fuel Partner for Maruti's Autocard programme,'' IndianOil Chairman Sarthak Behuria said.

With car replacement cycles becoming shorter over the years and with the average customer spending Rs 81,000 (approx) per annum on motoring expenses, MUL expects to enrol over 1 million car owners under the new initiative.

The rewards programme will be operated through the Maruti Suzuki Autocard which will be offered to all Maruti Suzuki car owners who choose to sign up for the programme.

Initially launched in 36 cities, the Autocard can be used as an international credit card as well. There is no membership fee, and each member gets a credit of Rs 10,000 upfront and bonus points accrue for purchase of spares and even for servicing the car. Apart from savings that come through 6 per cent lower charges on service, this is valid for five years.

The company, last fiscal, produced over 5.61 lakh cars.

UNI