Miles Ahead

A range of cars from entry level to premium models and its recent foray into LCV segment are likely to keep Maruti Suzuki's leadership position intact for many more years.

- Munish Shekhavat

In a major strategic decision, Maruti Suzuki India plans to bring more products with hybrid technology over the next few years. The decision of the country's largest car maker is prompted by rising concern over pollution that has developed into a major environmental issue, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR).

"As a market leader and responsible corporate citizen, we are fully sensitive to our duty towards the environment. We were the first ones to launch mild hybrid products with reasonably good volumes. This process of hybridisation will be expanded further in the next few years," Maruti Suzuki Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa has said in the company's annual report for 2015-16.

Maruti Suzuki is providing factoryfitted CNG cars and making efforts to expand their penetration in the market. Currently, the company offers mild hybrid technology in its Ertiga MPV and premium sedan Ciaz.

In 2015-16, the automobile industry faced a major challenge with environmentalists, media and the judiciary concerned over improving air quality in the NCR and other parts of India. Maruti Suzuki Chairman R C Bhargava points out that investors are losing confidence and customers are unsure of what to do in the wake of diesel vehicles being targeted as the "main villain" for air pollution, especially in Delhi and the NCR region.

Mr Bhargava states that the auto industry is also equally concerned over pollution and adds: "Finding the correct solution to any problem requires that the root cause of the problem is correctly diagnosed." The positive factor is that the government recognises the dangers of the situation and is taking a firm stand in favour of growth while dealing with the real pollution problem, he opines.