Back in the mid-1980s, the Editor of this magazine had an interesting experience driving a Maruti Gypsy in India. The Maruti was an Indian-built Suzuki SJ jeep and something of a liability if truth be told. Intriguing, therefore, to discover nearly 30 years later, that Suzuki is celebrating no less than 10 million domestic car sales across India – giving the Japanese company a massive 50 per cent of the entire passenger and light commercial market. The numbers are equally impressive when you consider that means 1000 new car dealerships and just under 3000 service workshops, serving 1406 cities… It is a safe bet that the Jimny, which is built and sold in India as the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy is somewhat better constructed these days!
