India’s leading passenger vehicle manufacturer Maruti Suzuki has posited a cumulative export figure of 15 lakh (1.5 million) units. These exports were over to 100 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. The premium hatchback Baleno which is exclusively manufactured in India, was in fact, the first car to be exported to Japan earlier this year.
The earliest export from the manufacturer dates back to 1987-88 when a small batch of vehicles was exported to Hungary. And in due course, the export grew with a number of models being sent to new international markets.
Maruti Suzuki’s export affair was highly benefitted by the iconic Zen followed by the classic 800. Both these models took the company to newer markets, followed by the A-Star. And for over a decade now, one of the highest selling cars in India, the Alto has achieved a cumulative sale of 3,90,000 units.
The company’s models namely: Alto, Swift, Celerio, Baleno, and Ciaz were the top five exported vehicles in 2015-16. And the top markets for Maruti Suzuki’s export models proved to be Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines, Peru and Bolivia. Super Carry, their newly launched light commercial vehicle is currently exported to South Africa and Tanzania and the company has future plans for it to be exported to SAARC countries as well.
Commenting on the announcement managing director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki, Mr Kenichi Ayukawa said: “We are happy to reach the 1.5 million milestone for our exports. Maruti Suzuki has consistently maintained a presence in international markets, regularly offering new products and reaching out to new countries. Our products like Zen, A-Star, Maruti 800 and Alto have made a mark overseas, including in the most competitive markets of Europe. Our premium hatchback Baleno, made exclusively in India, is the first car to be exported from India to Japan. It has become a symbol of the Make in India mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and has taken India’s exports story to a new level.”
