Author
LoansJagat Team
Read Time
4 Min
19 Jun 2025
In February 2025, Maruti Suzuki took a progressive step by partnering with Sarva UP Gramin Bank to offer vehicle loans to customers in rural and semi-urban areas. Around the same time, Toyota Motors announced a similar collaboration with Union Bank of India to streamline vehicle financing for its buyers.
The question is what is the impact of these partnerships? Are they good for car buyers?
These partnerships highlight a linear curve towards progress. Carmakers are joining hands with financial institutions to bring affordable and accessible vehicle financing to more Indians.
But what is vehicle financing?
Vehicle financing simply means taking a loan to buy a car or bike instead of paying the full amount upfront.
Here's how it works in layman terms:
Step 1: You choose your dream car.
Step 2: You apply for a loan from a bank or finance company.
Step 3: They pay the dealership on your behalf.
Step 4: You repay the loan in monthly installments (EMIs).
Read More – How to Calculate Home Loan EMI in 2025 – Step-by-Step Guide
This allows you to own a vehicle today and pay for it over time, without draining your entire savings in one go.
To make car ownership easier for a larger section of the population, Maruti Suzuki has now partnered with Equitas Small Finance Bank. This move is aimed at enhancing financing options across Equitas' extensive branch network and tapping into newer customer segments.
Here are the key details of the collaboration
Particulars | Details |
Partnership Announcement Date | June 2025 |
Bank Involved | Equitas Small Finance Bank |
Purpose | To expand Maruti Suzuki's retail car finance network |
Customer Benefits | Quick loan approvals, competitive interest rates, flexible EMIs |
Availability | Across all Equitas Bank branches in India |
Target Segments | Salaried individuals, self-employed, first-time car buyers |
Expected Outcome | Higher vehicle penetration in underserved markets |
Through this alliance, customers can avail financing at attractive rates and with simplified paperwork — making car buying more seamless than ever.
Let’s take an example of Raj, a 30-year-old salaried professional from Nagpur. He’s planning to buy a Maruti Swift that costs ₹7.5 lakh. Here’s how vehicle financing from Equitas Small Finance Bank can benefit him:
Scenario | Without Vehicle Loan | With Vehicle Loan (Equitas Bank) |
Total Amount Needed | ₹7.5 lakh upfront | ₹75,000 down payment (10%) |
Remaining Amount | N/A | ₹6.75 lakh financed |
EMI (5 yrs @ 9.5%) | N/A | ₹14,214 approx/month |
Savings Impact | Entire savings wiped out | Savings remain mostly intact |
Liquidity for Emergencies | Very low | Comfortable liquidity |
Option to Refinance in the Future? | Not applicable | Yes, can refinance for better terms later |
Car Ownership | Immediate | Immediate |
Mental Peace | Stressful due to full payment | Peace of mind with manageable EMIs |
As seen above, vehicle financing gives Raj the ability to own a car without financial strain, while also preserving his emergency funds.
Maruti Suzuki reported its highest-ever annual sales for FY 2024–25, with 2,234,266 units sold—including 1,795,259 domestic sales and 332,585 exports.
Also Read - Equitas Net Banking – Login, Registration & Features
In the calendar year 2024, it sold approximately 1.75 million vehicles, with SUVs and MPVs accounting for about 710,651 units—a 25% year‑on‑year increase. This highlights their strong performance across mini, compact, utility vehicles, and vans.
Equitas Small Finance Bank, founded as an NBFC, became a small finance bank and is actively pursuing a Universal Bank licence from RBI. As of Q3 FY25, the bank serves millions of customers—while their full annual report doesn’t specify the exact number of account holders, Equitas highlights a deep presence in semi‑urban and rural India.
Aspect | Detail |
Business Type | Small Finance Bank aiming to become a Universal Bank |
Account Base | Millions (focus on retail & micro‑segments) |
Geographic Reach | Strong penetration in semi‑urban and rural areas |
Branch Network | Widespread footprint in low-penetration regions (focus on inclusion) |
With the rising cost of vehicles, financing has become a go-to option for many buyers. Maruti Suzuki’s latest tie-up with Equitas Small Finance Bank signals a push toward more inclusive and affordable car ownership. Whether you're in a metro or a Tier-3 town, such partnerships ensure that your dream car is never out of reach.
So if you’ve been delaying your car purchase due to budget constraints — this might just be the right time to drive home!
About the Author
LoansJagat Team
We are a team of writers, editors, and proofreaders with 15+ years of experience in the finance field. We are your personal finance gurus! But, we will explain everything in simplified language. Our aim is to make personal and business finance easier for you. While we help you upgrade your financial knowledge, why don't you read some of our blogs?
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