Maruti to start designing products from 2010

New Delhi (PTI): Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the country's biggest carmaker, will start designing cars in India by 2010, for which it has sent close to hundred employees for training in Japan, a senior company official said on Monday.

"We are training about 100 people in research and development area at Suzuki Japan. They have been sent to Japan for two years and would come back in batches between 2008-10," Maruti Suzuki India's Executive Director (HR) S Y Siddiqui told PTI.

The training includes hardcore designing as well as developing research-related capabilities and is aimed at enabling the company to start designing cars in India by 2010, Siddiqui said.

The official said most of the current human resources investments and training activities were targeted for the year 2010.

"Plants can be set up at any given time, but for their efficient functioning, the employees' skills, behavioural patterns and leadership qualities are a must," he noted.

Maruti Suzuki is targeting to sell one million cars every year by 2010, according to the company's newly appointed MD and CEO Shinzo Nakanishi, who will assume the top position from Jagdish Khattar on December 19.

Nakanishi said earlier this month that the company would invest Rs 1,750 crore in setting up a research and development wing at Manesar over the next three years.

MSIL, in collaboration with its parent Suzuki Motor Co, has already developed a new concept hatch - A-Star - which would be displayed for the first time during the upcoming Auto Expo in January.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200712171541.htm

Meanwhile The Economic Times reports:

NEW DELHI: The success of its global car Swift has prompted Maruti Suzuki India to develop a full-fledged car-designing centre in India. Maruti has sent close to 100 employees to Japan for training at the global R&D facility of its parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, to develop designing capabilities. The company engineers had been closely working with their SMC counterparts in the designing and development of the Swift and other global models like the Sx4, Grand Vitara and the Splash. While all other products have been introduced in India, premium hatchback Splash will hit the domestic market next year. "Our 100 designers and engineers will be taking special training in car designing in the field of R&D at SMC in Japan. They will be trained for two years,” said a senior executive of Maruti Suzuki. The company will start designing cars in India by 2010.

Source: The Economic Times 18 Dec, 2007 (emphasis - characters in bold letters - added)