Thursday, Mar 24, 2005
MUL's engine plant to be ready by early 2007
By Our Special Correspondent
BANGALORE, MARCH 23. The diesel engine plant of Maruti Udyog Ltd. (MUL), being set up at Manesar in Haryana in association with Suzuki Motors, will be operational by early 2007. The plant will cater to the global requirements of Suzuki, according to the MUL Managing Director, Jagadish Khattar.
Speaking to presspersons at the launch of its first driving school here, Mr. Khattar said the platform for the diesel engine would be a mid-sized car. The diesel engine plant — Maruti's second manufacturing unit — would have a capacity to produce one lakh engines with a provision to scale up to three lakh units.
MUL would soon launch its compact petrol car, Swift. It would be produced at the Manesar facility with 30 per cent import content. It would have a 1.3 litre petrol engine and come in new colours.
Asked whether there would be an upward revision of car prices in the light of rising steel prices, Mr. Khattar replied in the negative. "We have to see the overall economy and to what extent the customers can absorb it."
On sales, he said the industry grew between 25 and 27 per cent in 2004 and the growth had been less at 18 per cent till February.
Mr. Khattar later inaugurated the Maruti Driving Training School that was equipped with modern simulator, providing comprehensive training to learners. Bangalore, he said, was the right place for the school as the city was keen on adapting new technologies. MUL would be launching 50 such schools in the next 12 months.
Copyright © 2005, The Hindu.