Suzuki aims at healthy competition with Toyota, plans small EVs to capture rising demand

Describing its relationship with Toyota as that of a good partner and a good rival, Representative Director and President of the Suzuki Motor Corporation Toshihiro Suzuki said that as an independent company it would like to go ahead in a healthy competition with the fellow Japanese auto major. Stressing on the need to get the top spot in the SUVs segment and expansion of market share in the hybrid, CNG and Hydrogen-run vehicles segment, he said that it is quite possible that an Indian may become the President of Maruti Suzuki or Suzuki Japan. India is 3rd largest market for automobiles in the world, with total passenger car sales clocking over 4 million units for 2 years on a trot.
While the company is launching E-Vitara in New Delhi tomorrow, Suzuki said that he personally feels it is best to use compact vehicles among EVs after mastering proper manufacturing techniques. Indicating his company’s plans to launch EVs in the small cars segment, he pointed out that despite a fall in sale of small cars, Maruti Suzuki’s small car sale is comparable to the sale of other SUVs. He added that small cars won’t cease to exist, as he highlighted that 1 million people in India likely to shift from 2-wheelers to cars will need affordable small cars.

As the company aims for a market share of 50%, Suzuki stressed on the need to proceed with a multi-pathway strategy for mobility in different segments. Indicating that it’s not possible to change all models to EV models, he highlighted the need for region-wise mobility solutions with the right product at the right place. He said that royalty structure is not going to change based on the exchange rate, in view of the recent depreciation of the value of the Indian rupee. While SMC has discontinued with manufacture of diesel vehicles, he indicated that the diesel technology may revive somewhere in the world in near future.

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