Maruti to expand its overseas operations

Maruti Suzuki India, the top car-maker of the country, announced that it is planning to expand its operations to overseas markets including Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The company is already exporting some of its most popular cars in European markets including Maruti A-Star and Maruti Ritz. Initially, the company will be exporting its A2 segment only, and after some years it may start selling all segment cars in overseas markets.

Maruti will now be looking at new overseas markets, including Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Brunei, Nepal, SriLanka and South Africa to tap the export potential in these countries, as per the statement given by company's chief general manager RS Kalsi. Maruti will also look at exporting Ritz, Zen Estilo and new Wagon R to countries where the demand for these cars emerges, he added.

According to Mr Kalsi, at present, the Maruti A-Star is the flagship exporting car for the company, followed by Maruti Alto and 800. The company managed to sell 1.47 lakh units of its cars in overseas markets, in year 2009-10, as compare to the 70,000 units exported in the preceding year. Company is expecting good export growth in this fiscal also.

Maruti had planned an investment of Rs 1,700 crore for its facility in Manesar, for capacity expansion with aiming to expand this capacity by 2.5 lakh units, by year 2012.

Maruti India recently launched a new Wagon R in the country which is compatible to the new emission norms, BS-IV. As the competition in small hatchback segment is rapidly increasing with lots of new car launches, Maruti is working hard to maintain its market share of more then 50 percent. The new wagon R is competing with popular cars in this segment including Hyundai i10 and i20, Volkswagen Polo, Ford Figo and Skoda Fabia.