Tuesday, April 24, 2012
By Pawan Rana
Maruti setting up R&D unit at Rohtak to develop new cars in India
Maruti seems to be obsessed with Haryana. It is here that it has set up its first production unit in Gurgaon and then in Manesar and now it has laid the foundation of its research wing at Rohtak. Notably, it was the series of strikes at Gurgaon plant in 2011 that hampered the production of Maruti Swift and Maruti Swift Dzire as well as delayed the launch of new Maruti Swift Dzire. It is at this facility that all new Maruti cars meant for India and the world will be developed, tested and given a production ready shape. It is said that Maruti will be investing around Rs 1000 crore in establishing this facility. Meanwhile, industry reports also suggest that Suzuki India is also setting up a motorcycle factory at Rohtak.
The setting up of the new unit along with other production units by industries at Rohtak will create around 40,000 jobs which is a good sign. It is believed that Maruti is in dire need of a research and development facility for all upcoming Maruti cars in India as the company aims at developing low cost cars and cars for segments where it has no car. SUV segment is one where Maruti still lacks a decent offering. It has Maruti Grand Vitara but it is very heavily priced. Maruti Gypsy on the other hand is only petrol car and only government or defense can afford it not the common man. Now that Maruti XA Alpha is under development and will be launched this Diwali, Maruti will be registering its strong presence in every segment.
In addition to the Maruti has forayed Maruti Ertiga in the MPV segment and now that whole of the MPV segment is taken care of as now Maruti has a low cost MPVs such as Maruti Omni and Maruti Eeco and there is a considerably high end offering Maruti Ertiga. It is at this new research and development plant that all new Maruti cars will be researched, developed and tested.
