Suzuki chief coming to India in February

NEW DELHI: Suzuki Motor Company (SMC) chairman Osamu Suzuki is expected to be in India next fortnight. The ostensible reason for the visit - he is coming to India for the third time in 12 months - is the inauguration of the new diesel engine facility and Maruti’s second car plant at Manesar. However, his nomination by the government for the Padma Bhushan award this year has provided an altogether different connotation to the visit.

Suzuki will be joining the likes of compatriots such as former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who was given the Padma Bhushan in 2004.

Suzuki is coming at a time when the government has already announced its intention to get out of Maruti Udyog by selling its residual stake in the company. Industry watchers expect Suzuki to hold a series of meetings with top government functionaries, including the Prime Minister, during his stay in New Delhi. When contacted, Maruti managing director Jagdish Khattar said he had no details of Suzuki’s visit at present. The last time Suzuki came here, he had announced his intention of forging a partnership with Nissan for making small cars in India and enhance the overall export target to four lakh units by 2010. However, Nissan changed its mind a few weeks later and decided to abandon Suzuki for its Indian soujourn. Due to the Nissan no-show, Suzuki’s export target from India has been whittled down by 40% for 2010.