Osamu Suzuki calls for focus on cost and quality in India - Report

10/10/2015 - 12:45 | Hyundai i20, Maruti S-Cross, Maruti Baleno, Maruti Suzuki | Karthik H

With the Indian wing of Suzuki Motor Corporation reaching record sales in recent months, the demands of the company's HQ is more intense. Osamu Suzuki, CEO and Chairman of the company, has called for Maruti Suzuki to focus more on cost and quality issues, says a report on Autocar India.

Maruti Suzuki S-Cross front three quarter at the 2015 Nepal Auto Show — One of its first premium offerings, the Maruti S-Cross, has fared sub-par by the company's standards and is now selling at a hefty discount.

Suzuki stressed on the well-known fact that small cars brings small profits but a larger volume, and hence focus on their quality and keeping parts cost down is of vital importance. This challenge is to be taken up by manufacturers, he's quoted as saying. Maruti Suzuki clearly dominates the country's small car market in several segments, with its nearest rival at a little less than half of its monthly sales numbers.

"The key to making a small car is to make a success of the concept of a minimum standard for cost and quality. Besides ‘Make in India’, you also require ‘Quality in India’ and ‘Cost in India’,” Osamu Suzuki said.

2016 Suzuki Baleno front cabin at the IAA 2015 — Set to be launched in October, the Maruti Baleno will face competition from the mighty Hyundai i20.

Maruti Suzuki is also set to launch the Baleno hatchback this month. The Baleno, an old and familiar name to the Indian customer, will compete against the Hyundai Elite i20 and the VW Polo. The i20, along with its crossover cousin i20 Active, is registering 5-figure sales with ease.