Country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India said on Wednesday that it plans to roll out its first completely made in India car in the next four years.
NEW DELHI: Country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India said on Wednesday that it plans to roll out its first completely made in India car in the next four years.
The auto major, which launched the fifth global model of parent Suzuki's 'A-Star' in the Indian market at an introductory price of Rs 3.47-4.12 lakh, has already started work on a future product conceived, designed and developed fully in India.
"We have started the ground work to launch a car which is conceived, designed and developed fully in India," Maruti Suzuki India Managing Executive Officer (Engineering) I V Rao said. The company is hopeful of rolling out the car in the next four years, he added.
He, however, declined to comment whether it would be a small car or a bigger one.
"We are discussing it internally," Rao said, adding groundwork such as preparing for manpower, capacity and other related infrastructure has started.
The made in India car will be another major step in the company's efforts to achieve its goal of developing products on its own.
"Our ultimate aim is to have products developed on our own," Rao said.
MSI's engineers have also played a major role in the development of the A-Star, which is Suzuki's fifth global model.
The new hatchback will be manufactured only in India at Manesar production facility. It would be powered by a 998cc K10B petrol engine and would be available in three variants in the domestic market.
"The launch of the car is very important to us for many reasons, like India is the only country where this model is being manufactured. We expect that the A-Star will enable our company to reach a different level in our export," MSI Chairman R C Bhargava said.
The company would manufacture 'A-Star' in over 200 variants and sell it to around 150 countries across Europe, Middle East, Latin America, Asia, Australia and Africa.
"We will start exporting the car to European markets from January, 2009," Bhargava said, adding the company is yet to finalise export order from another Japanese car maker Nissan.
Earlier, MSI was supposed to supply 50,000 units of 'A-Star' to Nissan for selling in the overseas markets under the brand 'Pixo'.
"Nissan number is not finalised yet, earlier figures were indicative one... Export to Nissan will continue and the number will depend on Nissan's market. We expect to finalise the order in early 2009," Bhargava said.
MSI is hoping for 'A-Star' contributing half of its overall export target of two lakh units by 2010-11.
He, however, said depending on the current global market situation, there could be a difference of 50,000 units.
When asked if the company would reduce the prices of its models on Finance Minister's advice to boost demand, Bhargava said: "Each auto company will have to decide examining the future and commodity prices. We are taking measures for price cut, but will take a decision on shareholder's interests."
On declining commodity prices, he said the company is expected to avail the benefit from February next year.
"When (commodity) prices were going up, we did not pass on the entire burden to consumers, we had absorbed some amount. That thing also has to be kept in mind," he added.
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