Maruti engineers to lead product development for Suzuki models for India
As per a report by PTI, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) wants Maruti Suzuki to take the lead for development of India-specific products. The company plans to launch 15 new products by 2020 in India.
The engineers at Maruti Suzuki will lead the product development for three to four models out of the total 15 that will be launched in the next five years. These products will not be built from scratch but will be based on the Suzuki platform. This will allow Suzuki to direct its focus on premium models, giving Maruti the charge for the India-specific range.
This news comes close on the heels of Maruti Suzuki showcasing the much hyped compact SUV, the Vitara Brezza at the 2016 Auto Expo. The Vitara Brezza is an all new, sub-four metre compact SUV developed in India without any inputs from Suzuki's global R&D team. The project was supervised by CV Raman, executive director engineering at MSIL making him the first Indian to head an MNC project by Suzuki. The total investment for the Vitara Brezza project is an estimated Rs 860 crore with 98 per cent localisation.
Suzuki maintains that with the advent of many international players in India, the competition has increased and the company needs to build more India-specific products. Maruti Suzuki currently has two plants at Gurgaon and Manesar in Haryana. The upcoming facility in Rohtak will also play a key role in the development of India-specific products like the Vitara Brezza.
To stay at the cutting edge of automotive news in India, follow us on Twitter (@odmag) or on Facebook (facebook.com/odmag). Or download our app from the iOS or Android app stores today
Related Stories
