While peripheral players are making big announcements, market leader can’t be mum for a long period of time. As India’s 1.4 million car market is getting hotter day-by-day the 50% market holder is pulling up the socks to defend its market share. If 20% market holder can make world premiere in India, then why not India’s largest carmaker don’t make any move. Is suzuki not taking its largest market serious? All these doubts will be dispelled when O Suzuki, chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) announces suzuki’s first “made in India car”. “We can’t let newcomers break our 50 percent share that easily. We’re going to do everything we can to keep that level for eternity,” Chief Executive Officer Osamu Suzuki said.
The new ‘world concept car’ would be the fifth global car from the Suzuki stable after the Swift, the Grand Vitara, the SX4 and finally the Splash that is yet to be launched in India. The ‘world car’ is being jointly developed by Maruti Suzuki India and Suzuki Motor Corporation. This is the Suzuki’s second visit to India in two months which underlines the increasing significance of Maruti Suzuki in Suzuki’s global operations. During the Osamu Suzuki’s earlier visit to India (in October 2007), he had announced an investment of 1.7 billion dollars on R&D and stepping up marketing activities. Suzuki will be the first international carmaker to make the global launch of its concept car at the New Delhi Auto Expo. Production version of Maruti Suzuki’s global car will hit the market in 2009. The car is likely to carry 1.2 litre to 1.6 litre engine and will be available in both petrol and diesel versions.Maruti Suzuki will also expand its dealer network to 1000 from 550 now. Tata Motors and Hyundai Motor currently have about 200 outlets each.