Suzuki plans shifting research, development to India

The country’s largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India, Tuesday said its Japanese parent Suzuki Motor Corp.

Suzuki wants to shift the bulk of its research and development work on cars with engine capacity of 1200cc or lower to India.“Now 60-70 percent of it is being developed in Japan. Suzuki wants to develop 90 percent in India,” company chairman R.C. Bhargava told a shareholder’s meeting here.

He, however, did not give any time frame.

The company also sees a greater focus on fuel-efficient small cars, hybrids, electric and multi-fuel cars, but has no plans to launch an ultra-cheap small car.

Tata Motors is scheduled to roll out the world’s cheapest car, Nano, for Rs.100,000 - or $2,500 - next month.

Maruti Suzuki said due to higher input costs, it sold 59,908 units in August compared to 65,968 units in the same month last year, a fall of 9.2 percent in sales - reflecting the single-largest decline in the past 30 months.