Maruti to launch the first ever Made – In – India car

After a stupendous market presence for over a few decades, Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest car maker recently outgrew its Japanese parent in sales and now is gearing up for on of its biggest challenges – the first ever made in India car which is scheduled for release in 2012.

Suzuki’s R&D facility in Japan has served as the research ground for all Maruti vehicles but now Maruti Suzuki India Limited plans to expand its manufacturing plans outside Japan and produce vehicles in India. The Japanese parent sees an investment of Rs 1500 crore for setting up a R&D unit in Rohtak, Haryana. Though the company is yet to fix the investment details, the R&D facility will be entirely taken over by Maruti, as a self contained set up. However, the Indian R&D centre will collaborate with Suzuki’s product development cell to make the made in India cars meet the global standards.

The car will be conceived, designed and developed exclusively in India. Also, the automajor has hired 1000 engineers to prop up its new R&D facility. While communicating the launch plans, Maruti Suzuki chairman, R.C. Bhargava said, “ The idea is that the development of small new cars particularly for India should be done more and more in India.”

The R&D facility at Rohtak will be entirely taken over by Maruti as a self-contained set up.
Still, the Indian R&D centre will collaborate with Suzuki’s product development cell to make the Made-in- India cars meet global standards. “When we design cars for India, they will need major modifications to be acceptable for, say, the European markets in safety, emissions and left-hand drive. That’s where Suzuki inputs will come into play,” said Mr Bhargava.

In terms of challenges, the first relates to the rear seat, which are more relevant in India as the car is more about a family unlike in Europe or Japan where the car is generally used by a single person, said Mr I..V. Rao, Managing Executive Officer – Engineering, MSIL. Secondly, he commented that the suspension needs to be made keeping in mind the state of roads and the multitude of speed breakers. This calls for the need for the car to ensure that the under body does not make contact with the speed breakers at the same time comfort is not compromised upon.