Maruti Suzuki's Approach to Clean Technologies and the Future of Mobility in India
Maruti Suzuki India, the country's leading car manufacturer, is committed to playing a key role in achieving national objectives of reducing carbon emissions and dependence on imported fuel. The company's Chairman, RC Bhargava, emphasizes the need for a diversified approach to clean technologies, recognizing that different solutions are needed for different segments of the market.
Maruti Suzuki is awaiting a policy framework that promotes all clean technologies, including electric vehicles, hybrids, CNG, and ethanol-powered cars. The company believes that offering customers a range of options at different price points is crucial to achieving widespread adoption of clean technologies.
While electric vehicles are seen as a long-term solution, Maruti Suzuki acknowledges the need for interim measures to reduce emissions. Hybrid cars offer significant improvements in fuel efficiency and emission reduction, while CNG and ethanol-powered vehicles provide cleaner alternatives to petrol and diesel.
The company is also exploring the potential of biogas, a renewable and carbon-negative fuel with immense potential in India. Maruti Suzuki has begun trials to produce biogas at its Manesar plant and is looking forward to government policies that would support its development.
Maruti Suzuki remains committed to addressing the needs of all consumers, including those who cannot afford expensive cars. The company's continued efforts to manufacture low-cost small cars reflect its recognition of the economic realities and aspirations of a large section of the Indian population.
As the Indian automotive industry evolves, Maruti Suzuki recognizes the critical role of technology development. The company is strengthening its own capabilities and will focus on current conventional technologies, while Suzuki's dedicated R&D company will concentrate on developing new technologies.
Maruti Suzuki India's Managing Director and CEO, H Takeuchi, envisions a future where India becomes a developed nation and the "joy of mobility" is accessible to all. The company's commitment to clean technologies and diverse solutions positions it as a key player in shaping the future of mobility in India.