Maruti to shift production facilities to Manesar plant
During the recent visit of Mr. O. Suzuki, Chairman and CEO, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, for attending the Annual General Meeting of shareholders of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, the production facilities of Maruti Suzuki India Limited were reviewed.
It was noted that the building of the existing Gurgaon Plant I was constructed in early 1970's. It had been refurbished and modified before Maruti Udyog began production in 1983. The said building is almost 40 years old, and the building and equipment are depreciated to a large extent and, therefore, it is necessary to reconstruct the building and modernise the production facilities.
But since the land in the Maruti campus in Gurgaon has been fully utilised, and there is no space available for the expansion of the plant, it was decided that facilities from Plant I in Gurgaon should be added and shifted to Manesar Plant in a phased manner.
The Gurgaon Plant I will be gradually changed to a base for engine assembly and machining, while automobile assembly will be integrated at Manesar Plant. As the shifting of production facilities will result in increase of production volume at Manesar Plant, we have requested the Haryana Government for further support so that the railway siding at Manesar Plant can be completed as early as possible.
[Via: infibeam]
Suzuki to build factory in India
Suzuki Motor plans to spend about 30 billion Yen ($ 322.6 million) to build a factory in India around 2011, boosting its production capacity in the country by 30 percent, the Nikkei business daily reported on Monday.
Suzuki's Indian unit, Maruti Suzuki controls about half of the country's market share. Maruti Suzuki Chairman R.C. Bhargava said earlier this week its management was considering whether to expand production capacity, adding it would be known soon.
A Suzuki spokesman said its Chairman Osamu Suzuki would brief on its Indian operation at its headquarters outside of Tokyo from 5 a.m. EDT on Saturday and declined to comment further.
[Via: Carazoo]
Yamaha, Hero Honda, Suzuki and TVS log growth in sales
Yamaha India has reported an increase of 63% in its sales during August 2009, at 19,508 units, as compared to 11,974 units sold in August last year. The company has bookings for over 12,000 units for its latest bike that was launched in India recently - the 150cc Fazer.
Hero Honda reports an increase of 35.88% in sales during August this year, at 415,137 units, as compared to 305,516 units sold in August last year. 'With sales of more than four lakh units, August 2009 has been a month of record sales for Hero Honda,' said Anil Dua, senior VP (marketing and sales), Hero Honda.
Up next is Suzuki, which logged a 17.68% increase in its two-wheeler sales in India during August this year, at 13,030 units, as against 11,072 units sold during August last year. According to Suzuki, its latest offering in the Indian market - the GS150R - was the main reason behind this increase in sales.
And finally, TVS Motor, which saw its total two-wheeler sales go up by 11%, at 126,842 units during August this year, as against 114, 321 units sold during August last year. TVS sold 51,127 motorcycles and 28,582 scooters in the domestic market during August 2009. The company also exported 11,747 two-wheelers during August this year, a decline of 35% over last year's figure for the same month.
[Via: indiaautomotive]
Maruti Suzuki shows a growth of 41 per cent in August
Maruti Suzuki has reported to have sold a total of 84,808 vehicles in August 2009. This shows a growth of 41.6 per cent in the month. This figure includes exports of 14,847 units, the highest ever monthly export in the company' s history.
A company release said it had sold a total of 59,908 cars in August 2008. Maruti Suzuki' s volume in the domestic A2 segment grew by 39.3 per cent. In the A3 segment, the sales volume grew by 44.1 per cent during the month as compared to sales in August 2008.
During the month of August, the company crossed the milestone of 50,000 cumulative exports in this fiscal year. The Maruti Suzuki A-Star is Maruti' s flagship export model. The A-Star, which was introduced internationally in January 2009, has been leading the export numbers since introduction. The major markets for this model in Europe include Germany, UK, France and Netherlands.
[Via: carazoo]
New Maruti Estilo Launched
Maruti India has come up with a refreshed New Estilo which looks much better than the outgoing model with new headlamps, grille and bumpers. Interiors have also been spruced up to give it a upmarket look with all beige theme.
New Estilo comes with all the changes as expected in a mid life facelift - new bumpers, new headlights, new front grille and new fog lights. The front of the car certainly looks more grown up with the large teardrop shaped headlamps flanking a more mature looking grille.
Maruti Suzuki has announced the price of New Estilo - it has been priced at Rs. 3.24 lakhs for the base model and Rs. 4.14 lakhs for top of the line VXi variant with ABS & Driver Side Airbag. The prices are more or less in the same price range of the outgoing model. As far as variants are concerned, it is available in three variants - Lx, Lxi, Vxi & top of the line Vxi ABS. Here are ex-showroom prices of New Estilo:
- New Estilo Lx -------- 324000.00
- New Estilo Lxi ------- 353000.00
- New Estilo Vxi ------- 383000.00
- New Estilo Vxi ABS - 414000.00
New Estilo is available in folowing eight shades:
- Superior White
- Midnight Black
- Silky Silver
- Dusky Brown
- Ecru Beige
- Quantum Orange
- Bright Red
- Emerald Blue
Additional Features/Changes In New Maruti Estilo:
- New Design Front & Rear Bumpers
- New Tear Drop Shape Headlamps
- New Wheel Covers
- New Mature Looking Front Grille
- New Round Fog Lights
- New 998cc K-series engine from A-Star
- New Intrument Cluster
- New Gearbox
- New Interior Theme for seats and dashboard
Nissan Increases A-Star Order From Maruti
The Maruti A-Star is not only setting the sales chart on fire as a Suzuki but even as a Nissan. The growing demand for small cars in Europe has led Nissan to nearly double the cars that it buys from Maruti Suzuki. The contract manufactured A-Star's annual order is now in excess of 50,000 units.
"Against the earlier indicated order of 30,000 units for this fiscal, Nissan has now confirmed that it plans to buy 54000 units," Maruti chairman R C Bhargava said. "Total exports to Nissan will now far exceed what was originally projected by them," he added.
[Via: motorbeam]
80 Lakh Marutis in India
Maruti Suzuki India has passed the milestone of producing 80 lakh cars in India. The company is still India's largest car manufacturer and the second largest car exporter. Maruti accounts for every second car sold in India and dominate the small car segment that accounts for nearly two-third of the overall car sales in India.
The first car rolled out on 14 December 1983 from the Gurgaon plant. Maruti currently has its two plants, the second being at Manesar near Delhi. So far the company has manufactured 81,05,228 units from its two manufacturing unit. MSIL manufactured 27 lakh M800 all these year and at least 25 lakh units were sold in the domestic market alone.
Now Maruti Suzuki is looking at new business avenues. It is already setting up an India-exclusive R&D center in Bangalore which will be responsible for the development of new designs and models exclusively as per the Indian customers. It is also ready to ship its batch of 54000 units of A-Star which will be sold as Nissan Pixo in the UK.
[Via: cartradeindia]
Toyota to source skin panels from Tata Steel
Toyota is planning to launch its new small car model in India. World's largest car maker Toyota is expected to source the skin panels from Tata Steel for its new car which is expected to launch by 2011. Tata Steel may also be supplying these skin panels to Nissan Motors in India.
"We are talking to Toyota for supplying skin panels for the company's (Toyota's) new small car to be launched in India," said a senior Tata Steel official, confirming that the company is in discussion with Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), the Indian joint venture of the Japanese car giant with the Kirloskar Group.
The skin panels give a fine shape to any car's out body and are responsible for its looks. The skin panels need to be of highest quality of steel to withstand external harshness apart from being strong and thin.
Tata Steel is already providing skin panels to Tata Motors, Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki and Honda Siel Cars India Limited. It also provides skin panels for Toyota Innova already so Tata Steel may be the natural choice for Toyota after all for its small cars.
[Via: cartradeindia]
IYM, SMI sales up 46.85% and 20.35% in July 2009
Yamaha Motor India reported a 46.85% hike in its sales during July this year, at 17,316 units, as compared to 11,792 units sold during July 2008. IYM recently inaugurated its new manufacturing facility at Surajpur, in UP, and also launched a new variant of the FZ16 - the Fazer 150. In the meanwhile, Suzuki Motorcycle India also registered an increase of 20.35% in its sales during July this year, at 12,585 units, as compared to 10,457 units sold during July 2008.
[Via: indiaautomotive]
Maruti Suzuki sales up 33.4%
Maruti Suzuki has announced a 33.4% increase in total sales during July this year, at 78,074 vehicles (including 10,546 units for export). The company's total sales during July 2008 stood at 58,543 units (including 5,632 units for export).
During July 2009, Maruti exported more than 50,000 units of the A-Star hatchback, which is said to be doing very well in Europe. The company also launched its new Grand Vitara SUV, which is powered by a more powerful 2.4-litre engine, in the domestic market.
Sales of the Maruti 800 went down from 4,953 units during July 2008 to 2,796 units during July this year. However, sales in the A2 segment (Alto, Wagon R, Zen Estilo, Swift, A-Star and Ritz) went up from 34,795 units in July 2008 to 48,115 units during July this year.
Maruti's sales in the A3 segment (SX4, Dzire) also went up from 6,009 units in July 2008 to 9,101 units in July this year. For a more detailed break-up of Maruti's sales figures, refer to the image below.
[Via: indiaautomotive]