Maruti Udyog to be Suzuki''s R&D centre for Asian markets

Mumbai: Suzuki Motor Corporation intends to make Maruti Udyog as a research and development (R&D) centre for its cars for the Asian market excluding Japan, according to the draft prospects filed by Maruti for its forthcoming initial public offer.

Maruti is also expected to have a full model change capability by 2006-07, while its R&D centre will play an important role in localisation and development of components.

The strategy of Maruti is to introduce new models with a minimum of 75 per cent localisation level and increase it to at least 90 per cent within three years of introduction of a new model.

Maruti has recently started sending its engineers to Suzuki facilities in Japan for a long-term training as a prelude to increasing localisation and upgrading the R&D facilities.