Of the 3 million cars that Suzuki wants to sell worldwide, almost 30 per cent have to come from Maruti Suzuki India. Maruti Suzuki has also started to share its good sales and service practices with other Suzuki companies worldwide, and I expect this flow to gain momentum in the next few years.

We have lined up certain critical initiatives that will better the experience of our customers and partners, and I will keep a close watch on them. We have an aggressive plan for new model launches. Besides, after our capital investment of Rs 9,000 crore in manufacturing and engine facilities, we want to invest substantial amounts in marketing infrastructure as well.

• This seems to be a fresh start for a two-decade-old company that has been an outperformer right from the start. What are the changes in manufacturing, R&D, product mix or branding that we may expect at Maruti?

I cannot give specifics at this stage. But the medium-term vision is that the R&D Centre at Maruti Suzuki will be at par with the Suzuki R&D facilities. I have also said that Maruti Suzuki is ready to play a much bigger role in Suzuki’s global operations. About product mix and branding in times to come, let me give you a complete picture.

First, the key points of Suzuki’s worldwide strategy with regard to models. Suzuki Motor Corporation has chosen a strategy of “World Strategic Models” to drive long term growth.

As part of this strategy, we have been developing global models which are European in overall styling and design, and carefully modified to suit local markets. What this means is that Indian customers get international levels of quality and design, at the same time as customers in other key markets.

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