Maruti to set up first stockyard in south by the mid this year

Maruit Suzuki India (MSI), the largest car manufacturer and Second largest car exporter of the country, will set up its first stockyard in south India by the middle of this year. This is in line with
strengthening its distribution network to set up stockyards in different parts of the country to reduce delivery time to customers, while it looks to boost its sales force. However, Maruit Suzuki India Managing Director Shinzo Nakanishi declined to provide details such as time-frame, investments, location and size of the stockyard. Nakanishi said setting up stockyards for both finished products and spare parts at regional level is the priority to reduce the transportation time, cost and mainly delivery time to customers. He added that after the completion of its announced investment of Rs 9,000 crore by 2010, fresh investments would be made in non- production activities such as research and development and marketing initiatives. He made it clear that the company was not going through government channels, but directly negotiating with land owners for acquiring land.