Maruti overtakes parent Suzuki in output, sales

Thanks to its healthy growth in the Indian market, Maruti Suzuki has overtaken Japanese parent Suzuki in annual vehicle production in 2009.

Maruti rolled out a total of 966,399 units in 2009, while Suzuki with a 54-per cent stake in the Indian car major, produced 908,302 vehicles. Maruti's total sales in 2009 at 967581 units also stood higher than Suzuki's production numbers.

According to auto industry analysts, the figures reflect the fast changing dynamics of the global auto industry. While many of the erstwhile developed markets, including Japan, are shrinking in the wake of the global economic recession, markets like India and China that are surging to new growth records. Even as the Japanese auto market contracted 10 per cent last year, the Indian market registered a 19 per cent growth.

Maruti has been moving to boost production in an expanding market and rising sales.

In 2009, it sold 836,893 units in the domestic market and exported 130,688 units, led by the A-Star compact that it sells independently. It also contract manufactures the A-Star for Nissan. The Alto grosses the highest sales from among its vehicles in India and accounted for 2.4 lakh units last year followed by WagonR with sales of 1.4 lakh units.

Maruti's portfolio currently comprises 13 models M-800, Alto, WagonR, Estilo, A-star, Ritz, Swift compacts, Omni van, sedans SX4 and DZire, SUVs Gypsy and Grand Vitara and recently-launched multi-utility Eeco in the Auto Expo.