Maruti Suzuki is looking at outsourcing the Vitara Brezza from Toyota Kirloskar Motor. India’s most popular SUV will be the company’s first model ever to be manufactured by a company other than Suzuki if the project gets the green signal.
Last month, Suzuki announced OEM supply of Vitara Brezza to Toyota. Also, the Japanese automakers confirmed that Toyota Kirloskar Motor will manufacture the Vitara Brezza from 2022. From this, it was expected the next-gen Vitara Brezza will have a badge-engineered version from Toyota, which will be manufactured at one of TKM’s two plants in Bidadi. The new report suggests that even the donor model may be produced at the same facility.
Asked if Maruti Suzuki will relocate the Vitara Brezza’s production fully or partly to a Toyota Kirloskar Motor plant, a top executive from the company said: “So those details are being worked out, and of course, we will follow the option which is the most attractive and will give us the maximum operational advantage.”
Meanwhile, Suzuki is working on increasing its production capacity in India. The company has two operational plants in Gujarat now, each with an annual production ability of 2,50,000 units. Plant No. 1 manufactures Baleno and Swift, while Plant No. 2 produces only the Swift. A third facility is aimed to become operational in 2020, and it will also be capable of rolling out 2,50,000 vehicles a year.
Also Read: Maruti Suzuki to discontinue all diesel models by March 2020
The first generation Maruti Vitara Brezza went on sale in March 2016 and is due for a facelift. As per a recent report, production of the facelifted model has commenced. Another recent report says that a petrol engine option will be introduced this Diwali.
