Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), one of the leading passenger vehicles manufacturers in the country, has achieved a new production milestone.

The OEM has become the first passenger vehicle manufacturer to produce 2 million vehicles in a calendar year for the first time in its history. Interestingly, Maruti Suzuki has also became the first among Suzuki Motor Corporation’s global automobile manufacturing facilities to achieve this landmark.

The company’s popular SUV the Ertiga was the 2 millionth vehicle to be rolled out from the production line from its Manesar facility in Haryana. Maruti Suzuki India shared that of 2 million vehicles, almost 60 percent were manufactured in Haryana and 40 percent in Gujarat. Of this Baleno, Fronx, Ertiga, WagonR and Brezza were the top 5 manufactured vehicles during the calendar year 2024.

Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The 2 million production milestone is a testament to India’s manufacturing potential and our dedication to ‘Make in India’ initiative. This achievement reflects our commitment, alongside our supplier and dealer partners, to driving economic growth, supporting nation building, and making India’s automobile industry self-reliant and globally competitive. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our customers, employees, and value chain partners for their continued support and for being an integral part of this historic journey.”

At present, Maruti Suzuki India has installed capacity to produce 2.35 million vehicles a year from its three manufacturing facility in India – two in Haryana and one in Gujarat. It is also establishing a new greenfield facility in Kharkhoda, Haryana that will contribute towards its target to scale up production to 4 million units per annum. The first plant with annual capacity of 250,000 units is expected to be operational in 2025, which once fully operational will be able to produce 1 million units a year.

The Japanese automaker is also scouting for another greenfield facility to further add 1 million units capacity.

Osamu Suzuki, the man who led Suzuki Motor Corporation for over five decades and was the longest serving head of a global automaker for more than 28 years as president, passed away on 27 December 2024 due to lymphoma.

A former bank employee Osamu Matsuda took over his wife’s surname Suzuki after their marriage. He joined Suzuki Motor Corporation in 1958 and worked in several roles before assuming the role of President in 1978.

It was in 1982, when the Indian government was scouting for bringing automotive manufacturing in India, Suzuki Motor Corporation picked up 26 percent stake in Maruti Udyog. This set the stepping stone for where Maruti Suzuki India is today.

Among various achievements, he will be fondly remembered for his bet on entering the Indian automotive market, which now serves as one of the largest markets for Suzuki Motor Corp.

As per media reports, Toshihiro Suzuki, the eldest son of Osamu Suzuki issued a statement that said: “The funeral was held privately with close family members until the ashes were interred. We respectfully decline condolence ceremonies, perfumes, flowers, condolence telegrams, etc.”

A statement issued by Maruti Suzuki India said, "Maruti Suzuki is deeply saddened on the passing of Osamu Suzuki, Senior Advisor, Suzuki Motor Corporation and Director & Honorary Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India. O. Suzuki was a visionary leader whose remarkable contributions shaped the global automobile industry. In India, his foresight and leadership were instrumental in the formation of Maruti Udyog in 1981. With his vision O. Suzuki played the pivotal role in realising the dream of putting India on wheels by empowering millions of Indian families with affordable, reliable, efficient and good quality vehicles. Under his stewardship, Indian automobile industry adopted the Japanese manufacturing and work practices that are globally recognised for teamwork, productivity and cost effectiveness. O. Suzuki’s legacy will live on as an inspiration to all of us at Maruti Suzuki and the entire automotive community in India. His passion to bring smiles to people’s lives through mobility will forever be cherished. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, business partners and colleagues in this moment of distress."

R C Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “It is with the deepest personal sorrow that I have learnt of the passing of Osamu Suzuki San. Without his vision and foresight, his willingness to take a risk that no one else was willing to take, his deep and abiding love for India, and his immense capabilities as a teacher, I believe the Indian automobile industry could not have become the powerhouse that it has become. Millions of us in this country are living better lives because of Osamu San. He won and enjoyed the trust of several Prime Ministers. He had a very close understanding with the present Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Osamu San’s contribution to the Indian economy, and for building bridges between India and Japan was acknowledged by the conferment of the Padma Bhushan on him.”

“He will be missed by his innumerable admirers and beneficiaries in the country. I have lost someone who was closer than a brother to me. He changed my life and showed how nationality is no barrier to people building unbreakable bonds of trust in each other. He was my teacher, mentor and a person who stood by me even in my darkest days. If I played a role in the success of Maruti, it was because I was his student and he had taught me how best to grow a company and make it competitive.”

“Osamu San came to Delhi at the end of July this year despite not being in good health. He came because he wanted to attend my 90th birthday. It was the most touching event in my life. Little did I know that this would be the last time I would see him. Osamu San will no longer be there to guide us. His legacy and teachings will never be forgotten and he will be remembered every time Maruti reaches another milestone as a part of the progress of India. May God give strength to his family to bear this irreparable loss,” added Bhargava.

Shradha Suri Marwah, President, ACMA & CMD, Subros, said, “It is with profound sorrow that we bid farewell to Osamu Suzuki, the legendary former Chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, whose visionary leadership and indomitable spirit transformed the global automotive industry. Over his remarkable career spanning several decades, he was instrumental in shaping Suzuki into one of the most trusted and admired automobile brands worldwide. His exceptional contributions to India through Maruti Suzuki not only revolutionised the Indian automotive landscape but also strengthened the bonds between India and Japan, fostering a partnership that set benchmarks for the global auto industry and the creation of a robust supply chain that empowered countless businesses. A trailblazer, mentor, and innovator, Suzuki's unwavering commitment to excellence, humility, and sustainability has left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege to know him. His legacy will continue to inspire generations in the automotive and business communities. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire Suzuki Motor Corporation family during this time of grief.” 

Image: File photo: Flickr

JSW MG Motor India has introduced a zero down payment scheme for the MG Astor compact SUV and the MG Hector SUV.

The limited-period offer, valid until 31 December 2024, will allow eligible customers to get up to 100 percent on-road price funding with a loan tenure of up to seven years. In addition, customers will also be able to get INR 50,000 funding for accessories across all variants on both models.

With prices starting at INR 999,000 the MG Astor is equipped with i-Smart 2.0 and over 80 connected features for a host of convenience and safety tech.

While, the MG Hector is available at prices starting INR 1.39 million and comes India's largest 35.56 cm (14-inch) HD Portrait infotainment screen. It also comes with ADAS (Level 2) functions along with Traffic Jam Assist and i-SMART technology among others.

JSW MG Motor India, which had announced its first product the MG Cyberster that will be sold under its premium product strategy MG Select, has released a performance teaser.

The company shared that the MG Cyberster, which takes inspiration from the MG B Roadster of the 1960’s, is tuned by former Italian F1 Engineer, Marco Fainello. The vehicle is said to offer a thrilling driving experience to customers.

The MG Cyberster features a dual motor setup that delivers 510 PS of power and 725 Nm of torque. It uses an 8-layer flat wire winding and waterfall oil-cooled motor, which promises an efficient performance even at high temperatures.

The roadster features front double wishbone and a rear five-link independent suspension that enables 50:50 front and rear weight distribution for enhanced vehicle stability.

JSW MG Motor India shared that the aerodynamic Kammback design enhances lateral stability, minimising vehicle's body roll that makes the vehicle safe.

The company is set to open exclusive experience centres in 12 cities under the MG Select brand.

Japanese auto majors Nissan Motor Co and Honda Motor Co, which have officially announced integration between the two companies by establishing a joint holding company, which aims to develop Japan’s industrial base as a ‘leading global mobility company’.

On 15 March, the partners first came together by announcing a strategic partnership for vehicle intelligence and electrification, which was followed by an announcement on 1 August to deepen the strategic partnership towards exploring fundamental technologies in the are of platforms for next-generation software defined vehicles (SDVs).

Given the highly competitive global automotive industry landscape and the pace of new technological innovations, the partners have now further joined forces to become more competitive.

In a joint announcement, the companies have said that through the business integration, they aim to bring together ‘management resources such as knowledge, human resources, and technologies; create deeper synergies; enhance the ability to respond to market changes; and expect to improve mid- to long-term corporate value.

In addition, Nissan and Honda will create a ‘leading global mobility company’ by bringing together Nissan and Honda's four-wheel-vehicle and Honda's motorcycle and power products businesses,

The outlined potential synergies include – standardising vehicle platforms across ICE, HEV, PHEV and EV Models; joint research in SDV and collaboration in all R&D functions; optimise manufacturing systems and facilities; integration of purchasing functions to provide competitive advantage across the supply chain; operational efficiency improvements; integrating sales finance function and establishment of a talent foundation for intelligence and electrification.

As per the understanding, Nissan and Honda will establish a joint holding company which is set to be listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange by August 2026. Post the listing, both the companies will become a wholly-owned subsidiaries of the joint holding company and will delist from Tokyo Stock Exchange.

The partners expects with the synergies in place they can attain sales revenue exceeding YEN 30 trillion and operating profit of more than YEN 3 trillion.

The new organisation will see Honda nominate a majority of internal and external directors. The President and representative director or president and representative executive officer of the joint holding company will be selected from among the directors nominated by Honda.

On the other hand, Nissan Motor Co, Honda Motor Co, and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the possibility of Mitsubishi Motors’ participation, involvement and synergy sharing in relation to the business integration through the establishment of a joint holding company outlined in an MoU signed between Nissan and Honda.

Makoto Uchida, Director, President, CEO and Representative Executive Officer, Nissan, said, “"Today marks a pivotal moment as we begin discussions on business integration that has the potential to shape our future. If realised, I believe that by uniting the strengths of both companies, we can deliver unparalleled value to customers worldwide who appreciate our respective brands. Together, we can create a unique way for them to enjoy cars that
neither company could achieve alone.”

"Honda and Nissan have begun considering a business integration, and will study the creation of significant synergies between the two companies in a wide range of fields. It is significant that Nissan's partner, Mitsubishi Motors, is also involved in these discussions. We anticipate that if this integration comes to fruition, we will be able to deliver even greater value to a wider customer base," added Uchida.

Toshihiro Mibe, Director and Representative Executive Officer, Honda, said: "Creation of new mobility value by bringing together the resources including knowledge, talents, and technologies that Honda and Nissan have been developing over the long years is essential to overcome challenging environmental shifts that the auto industry is facing. Honda and Nissan are two companies with distinctive strengths. We are still at the stage of starting our review, and we have not decided on a business integration yet, but in order to find a direction for the possibility of
business integration by the end of January 2025, we strive to be the one and only leading company that creates new mobility value through chemical reaction that can only be driven through synthesis of the two teams."

At this time of change in the automobile industry, which is said to occur once every 100 years, we hope that Mitsubishi Motors' participation in the business integration discussions of Nissan and Honda will lead to further social change and that we will be able to become a leading company in creating new value in mobility through business integration. Nissan and Honda will start the discussion from today onwards with an aim to clarify the possibility of business integration by around the end of January in line with the consideration of Mitsubishi Motors," added Mibe.

Takao Kato, Director, Representative Executive Officer, and President and CEO, Mitsubishi Motors, said: “In an era of change in the automotive industry, the study between Nissan and Honda about a business integration will accelerate synergy maximisation effects, bringing high value also to the collaborative businesses with Mitsubishi Motors. In order to realise synergies and to make the best use of each company's strengths, we will also study the best form of cooperation.”