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The first generation was launched to the local Indian market on 27 September 2000<ref name="Maruti" /> although the Alto nameplate had been successfully used to export the [[Maruti Zen|Maruti Suzuki Zen]] to Europe from India since around 1994,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blonnet.com/2008/02/29/stories/2008022951730300.htm|title=Maruti's exports cross half a million|date=28 February 2008|work=The Hindu Business Line|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100502022315/http://www.blonnet.com/2008/02/29/stories/2008022951730300.htm|archive-date=2 May 2010|access-date=26 January 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> having captured over 40% market share in Belgium and 33% in Netherlands by 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980605/15650264.html|title=Maruti to decide on another price hike soon: MD|date=4 June 1998|work=Indian Express|access-date=26 January 2009}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=no}}</ref> The original Alto 800 carries the RF308 chassis code while the three-cylinder K10 is RF310; the four-cylinder export version is RF410.
The Alto was seen as a natural successor to the time-tested and equally popular [[Maruti 800]] (MB 308). It contained all the plus points that the 800 offered Indian car-buyers, in addition to features such as power-steering, power-assisted braking and a 5th gear that the 800 did not normally have. The popularity of the Alto has steadily increased over the past few years, mainly due to the aggressive pricing. This reduction in prices has mainly come in due to the reduction in excise duty over time. Alto became the first car in India to sell over 200,000 units in a single financial year, the last 100,000 units being sold in 5 months. Alto was also the only car to sell over 22,000 units in a single month. Maruti's vast network of [https://warrantypart.com/ dealerships] and Maruti Authorized Service Centers (MASS) have also contributed towards this massive popularity in the Indian entry-level automobile market.
=== Alto K10 (RF310) ===
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