India will be global manufacturing hub for Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Suzuki intends to use the Indian facility as the global manufacturing hub for the new premium hatchback, the Baleno. The Honda Jazz and Hyundai i20 rival will be built at the Manesar facility and exported to around 100 markets worldwide including Suzuki’s home market, Japan, as a CBU.

The exports of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno are expected to commence within couple of months of the India launch on October 26. In an interview to the Hindu newspaper, the company’s Executive Director, Mr R.S. Kalsi, confirmed that the company has managed to localise close to 99 per cent of the Baleno’s components. 

India will be the only country manufacturing the Baleno and the car will be exported to the European, South American and the Asian markets. While the Indian car gets the 1.2-litre K-Series petrol and 1.3-litre multijet diesel engine options, the European version will also get the new 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit. 

Maruti Suzuki has officially opened the bookings for the Baleno and the premium hatchback will be available in  four petrol manual and one automatic variant, along with four diesel manual variants.