At TrueAssistive Technology, we spend a lot of time listening to people.
Not in meeting rooms or presentations — but to seniors, caregivers, and families who tell us what everyday mobility actually feels like. One thing we hear often is this: the journey isn’t the problem — getting into the car is.
For many older adults and people with limited mobility, entering a vehicle means bending, twisting, holding onto doors, or depending on someone else. It’s uncomfortable, sometimes painful, and often frustrating.
That is exactly where this collaboration with Maruti Suzuki began.
Together, we worked on bringing a swivel seat solution to the WagonR, one of India’s most familiar and widely used cars. The idea was simple — make everyday travel easier without changing how people live or what car they trust.
A Small Change That Makes a Real Difference
The swivel seat doesn’t try to do anything complicated.
Instead of asking the passenger to adjust their body to the car, the seat adjusts to the passenger.
When the WagonR door opens, the seat gently rotates outward. This allows the person to sit down in a natural, upright position — without twisting their knees or lowering themselves awkwardly. Once seated, the seat turns back inside the car smoothly, placing the passenger in a comfortable travel position.
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Watching it in action makes the benefit clear. The movement is calm, controlled, and reassuring — especially for seniors or caregivers who assist them daily.
Why the WagonR Was the Right Choice
The WagonR has always been known for its tall seating position, generous headroom, and easy visibility. These qualities already make it more comfortable than many compact cars.
By integrating the swivel seat into this platform, accessibility becomes part of a car people already know, trust, and use every day. It doesn’t feel like a special vehicle or a separate category — it feels familiar.
That matters, because dignity often comes from not feeling “different.”
How This Collaboration Came Together
This solution was developed under Maruti Suzuki’s Startup Incubation Program with NSRCEL–IIM Bangalore, where we had the opportunity to work closely with Maruti Suzuki’s R&D and engineering teams.
What stood out to us was the attention to detail. Every question came back to the user: How will this feel for an older passenger? Will this be stable enough? Can it be installed without altering the car?
Those conversations shaped the final product.
As our founder Naina Padaki shared, working alongside Maruti Suzuki’s engineers was a genuinely collaborative experience — one where customer comfort and safety were always the priority.
Practical, Safe, and Ready for Everyday Use
The swivel seat is available as a retrofit kit at Maruti Suzuki ARENA dealerships. It can be installed in new WagonR vehicles or fitted into existing ones, without modifying the car’s structure or core systems.
The kit has been tested at ARAI, meets required safety standards, and comes with a 3-year warranty. It’s designed not just to work — but to last.
Where It’s Available Now
The swivel seat is currently offered at over 200 ARENA dealerships across 11 cities as part of a pilot rollout. Based on feedback and real-world use, Maruti Suzuki plans to expand availability further.
This phased approach helps ensure the solution continues to meet real needs, not just expectations on paper.
Looking Ahead
For us at TrueAssistive Technology, this collaboration is meaningful because it brings assistive design into the mainstream. It shows that accessibility doesn’t need to be complex or separate — it can be part of everyday choices.
When large manufacturers and assistive technology companies work together with empathy and intent, the result is not just a feature — it’s confidence, independence, and comfort for thousands of families.
And that’s a direction worth driving toward.