The Indian roads seem to be generating more and more heat these days. The latest company to add to the fire is Suzuki Motors. The automobile giant has made public, its plans of launching its next ‘World Car’ from its Indian venture, based in Gurgaon. The car is expected to be unveiled to the world by the end of this year i.e. 2008. The announcement regarding the same was made by Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director of Maruti Suzuki India.
Nakanishi also told the media that in the initial period, Suzuki plans to export 100,000 units of the new model to Europe and the rest of the world, on an annual basis. Through the new model, the company aims at strengthening its position in the automobile market. The Gurgaon plant of the company is based at Manesar and was set up under a joint venture company, called Maruti Suzuki Automobiles India, in which Suzuki Motors holds 30 per cent equity.
The total investment that went into the plant was to the tune of Rs.1524 crore ($384 million). The initial capacity of the plant will be set at 100,000 cars per annum. However, with time, the potential will be increased and take up to 250,000 units. As per Nakanishi, the manufacturing capability of Suzuki has increased to such a level that it is now ready to make small cars exclusively in India for exports to the European markets, explaining why ‘World Car’ is being made in the country.
