Maruti Suzuki is a popular Indian automobile company that produces a diverse range of vehicles, such as sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, and commercial vehicles. It is a joint venture between Maruti Udyog Limited and Suzuki Motor Corporation. The brand is popular for producing affordable, reliable, and fuel-efficient vehicles that have dominated the Indian market since its inception. The company has gone through many logo changes since its start in 1981. This article takes a look at the history and evolution of the Maruti Suzuki logo.
The Genesis of the Maruti Suzuki Logo (1981 – 2000)
The original Maruti Suzuki logo combined a graphical emblem in dark blue and an uppercase wordmark (in black). The graphical emblem featured two stylised wings that depicted the contours of the letter “M.”. Besides, the blue wings represented hope and aspirations of the company and the country.
Alternatively, another logo variant did the rounds during the above period. Here, the dark blue stylised wings and the wordmark “Maruti Udyog Ltd” in uppercase were enclosed within a slender horizontally stretched rectangle. Further, there were two partitions within the rectangle to house the graphical emblem and the wordmark.
(2000 – 2011)
In 2000 the logo was redesigned, wherein the Suzuki corporate logo was added alongside the Maruti logo. Looking more professional and clearer, the blue-winged emblem of the Maruti logo appears alongside the solid red “S” Suzuki emblem within two separate squares of the same size drawn in black. To the right of the emblems was placed the wordmarks “Maruti” and “Suzuki” in two levels and in bold black capitals. This logo transition showed the visual journey of the brand from a singular entity to a global joint venture.
(2007 – 2010)
In November 2007, a new logo was launched with an altered Maruti emblem. Here, the blue stylised wings of the Maruti emblem had fewer “cuts” compared to the previous iteration. However, the other logo details remained the same.
(2011 – 2018)
The 2011 logo iteration was conceived to highlight a key milestone—the sale of the 10-millionth car. It saw the black elements removed from the logo, which included the squares. Resplendent in blue and red, the centrepiece of the logo was the stylish blue wings of Maruti and the red “S” of Suzuki.
Showcasing the synergy between the two brands, the logo featured the wordmark “Maruti” in red uppercase to the extreme left and the wordmark “Suzuki” in calming blue to the extreme right. The red colour symbolised passion and energy, while the blue colour symbolised innovation and reliability. Overall, the colour scheme was used to create a visual harmony and unify the respective brands.
(2015 – Present)
In the 2015 iteration, the logo was simplified to coincide with the launch of the Nexa line of dealerships. Also, the logo change was undertaken as Suzuki acquired a controlling stake in the company. Consequently, on the one side, the logo saw the removal of the stylised wing emblem of Maruti in blue; on the other side, the colour of the “Maruti” wordmark in uppercase was changed to solid blue from the previous red. Besides, the two wordmarks, “Maruti” and “Suzuki,” were placed alongside each other but to the right of the “S” emblem.
(2018 – Present)
The mid-2018 logo iteration saw the colour of the “S” emblem changed to a light grey tone from the earlier red. Also, the colour of the wordmark “Maruti Suzuki,” displayed in bold uppercase and in a sans-serif typeface, was changed to purple to convey innovation and creativity.
(2018 – Present) (Arena)
On October 16, 2018, the existing logo was extended to include “Arena” to cover the non-Nexa dealerships. Here, the additional wordmark “Arena” in thin blue uppercase was added to the right of the brand name “Maruti Suzuki”.
Impact on Brand Perception
Consumers reacted positively to the logo changes of Maruti Suzuki over the decades. The company retained its core colours but modernised with the times. This preserved brand recognition while updating the brand image. The logo evolution kept Maruti Suzuki looking fresh and contemporary.
The Elements of the Maruti Suzuki Logo
Font
The letters in the main Maruti Suzuki logo are bold. But the font looks clean and modern. The typography is geometric sans serif and the letters have solid, bold shapes. The similar fonts to geometric sans serif are Neue Helvetica Std 93 Extended Black and Swiss 721 Std Black Extended.
Colour
The colours used are blue and grey, which is a clean and bright combo. It gives a feeling of professionalism and recognisability. It also means safety and stability. The deep blue looks calm and shows the expertise of Maruti Suzuki. And from the customers perspective, they can trust the brand and feel safe in the vehicles.
Finally
The Maruti Suzuki logo has transformed with the company over the past four decades. The logo changes reflected modern styles while keeping brand consistency. For Maruti Suzuki, the logo expresses dependability, dynamism, and innovation.