Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), the parent company of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), said it has to work harder to maintain its leadership position in India as competition intensifies.

The company plans to tie up exclusively with component and raw material suppliers to develop better technologies, Toshihiro Suzuki, President and Chief Operating Officer, SMC, told reporters here on Tuesday.

“Joint development of future technologies with component and raw material makers seems a more probable option. Whatever technology is required for environment or safety issues, SMC would like to develop its own technology,” he said.

Denying global reports of Suzuki getting into an alliance with Toyota, he said such tie-ups are not on cards, but the company can always work with vendor partners to cooperate in all areas of technology, since it is becoming difficult for any one company to be in all areas.

“We — SMC and MSIL — have to work hard and improve in areas such as fuel efficiency and safety. Bringing in these kinds of improvements and more suitable products for the Indian market will appeal to compact car customers,” said Suzuki, who is here to unveil the compact SUV Vitara Brezza at the Auto Expo. He said Maruti Suzuki will play an increasingly important role in research and development.

Reduced royalty That would mean reduced royalty payment to SMC as the Japanese parent has been focussing on high-end technology products like hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, which MSIL could use, as India moves to stricter emission and safety norms.

“But irrespective of changes in royalty, we will continue to invest in R&D in Maruti,” Suzuki said. MSIL has invested ₹2,500 crore to set up an R&D centre at Rohtak.

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