Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, with a share of about 46 per cent in the domestic market, expects to achieve a double-digit growth during this financial year.

“The first quarter has witnessed 13 per cent growth, and we expect the momentum to continue during the remaining three quarters. While the automotive sector is projected to grow by about 6-8 per cent, we would potentially grow by a double digit,” RS Kalsi, Executive Director, Maruti Suzuki, said.

Speaking after the launch of the NEXA Jubilee Showroom of RKS Motors in Hyderabad, Kalsi said: “The company continues to be the leader in the domestic market accounting for a 46 per cent share. In fact, we have gained about 2.9 per cent share last year, amid competition from 17 other players.” Last fiscal, Maruti sold 11.70 lakh units in the domestic market up from 10.53 lakh units a year before.

Kalsi said the company management was drawing up a perspective plan to grow the sales volume to 20 lakh units a year by 2020. During the journey to achieving this, the company may bring many models from the Suzuki stable. About 20 new models are planned for launch by Suzuki over the next few years.

In order to meet the projected capacity, the company is in the process of setting up its third plant of 7.5 lakh units in a phased manner in Gujarat. In the phase one, to be ready by 2017, 2.5 lakh capacity would be added to the 15-lakh units, Kalsi said.

The company’s R&D centre in Haryana, which has commenced operations partially, would be fully operational by 2017 aiding the company to roll out new models faster. The senior management of Maruti consisting of T Hashimoto, Executive Director; RS Kalsi, Executive Director; Partho Banerjee, Senior Vice-President, were in Hyderabad to inaugurate two NEXA showrooms of RKS Motors and Varun Motors.

Vinay Saboo of RKS Motors said the journey with Maruti over the past two decades has been very engaging with more than 1 lakh customers spanning a network of three Maruti showrooms, three True Value showrooms, seven Maruti workshops and two driving schools.