Maruti Suzuki’s newbies drive its 20-million mark

India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India crossed the total production of 20 million vehicles at its Gurugram and Manesar facilities, which produce its most popular models such as the Swift Dzire, Vitara Brezza, Alto, and Wagon R. The carmaker, which also celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, becomes the first in the country to achieve this milestone.

“The 20 million production milestone is a testimony of trust in brand Maruti Suzuki. For over three decades, Maruti Suzuki has worked to listen and meet the evolving customer aspirations with contemporary products of global quality,” said Kenichi Ayukawa, MD and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India. “We are committed to serve customers with products and services, which are best in quality, safety and ahead in technology.”

Of the 20 million units, 14.37 million vehicles were manufactured in Gurugram, while 5.62 million vehicles were from the Manesar facility.

While Maruti Suzuki had achieved the 1 million production mark in March 1994, almost a decade after it started manufacturing cars, it reached the 5 million milestone in April 2005.

The company said in a statement that of the 20 million vehicles, a “chunk will be sold in the domestic market and the rest will be exported”.

For the April-June 2018 period, the company produced 4,74,970 units and sold 4,58,967 vehicles in the domestic market, while its exports stood at 25,724 units. The company makes 16 models for India, and exports vehicles to more than 100 countries in Europe, Japan, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Experts say that the growth can be attributed to recent successful launches of the Swift Dzire, Baleno, and Vitara Brezza, as Maruti Suzuki was able to do a lot more on their innovation and design with added features.

“Maruti has the first mover advantage. When the government went in for a joint venture of Maruti with Suzuki, it was an advantage they got. Over the years, they have been able to capture the pulse of the market in terms of what its requirement is through primarily coming up with a vehicle which appears reasonable on cost and whose maintenance is phenomenally reasonable,” said senior auto analyst Sridhar V. of Grant Thornton India.

The Japanese carmaker—which showcased its first car, the Maruti 800 SS80, on December 16, 1983, in India—is expected to launch the new Ciaz and second-generation Ertiga in India soon.

“It started off with a small car, which made a huge difference and continues to be a volumes driver for them. They got the right features, the right design at the right price at the right time,” Sridhar added. “Too many coincidences, but this is how it has worked for them. They are known for their network of services and availability of parts, and that has made a huge difference.”