• Supplier localization: Maruti Suzuki has grown from 1 or 2, 3 suppliers to more than 400 tier 1 suppliers and 1,500 tier 2 and tier 3 suppliers in India. Takeuchi said deeper localization is needed to reach worldwide quality, cost and productivity levels and make supply more sustainable and resilient to disruptions.
• Multiple pathways: Maruti is pursuing EVs alongside CNG and other options. Takeuchi said 75% of India’s electricity generation comes from coal, while biogas made from cow dung or paddy straw could fuel CNG vehicles; CNG cars account for almost 40% of sales.
• EV ecosystem: Maruti has introduced an EV manufactured in India and exports EVs to more than 100 countries. Takeuchi said EV localization remains limited across the industry, with battery cells imported from China, and that building a local battery-electric-vehicle ecosystem is essential to cost competitiveness.
• India operations: Maruti produced and sold 2.4 million vehicles last year and has expanded annual production capacity to 2.9 million. Takeuchi said India supplies nearly 60% of Suzuki Group’s global production, with R&D, design, testing and proving-ground capabilities approaching the scale of Japan.
• Growth potential: Takeuchi cited car penetration of 34 per 1,000 people in India, compared with 230 in China and more than 600 in developed countries. He said India could reach 600 cars per 1,000 people by 2047, describing the market’s potential as a reason to start investing now.