Maruti’s Baleno drives into Japan with pride
FAMILY MATTERS This will be the auto giant’s first car to be exported to parent country, to be sold in 100 more markets
NEW DELHI: Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) on Wednesday launched the madein-India premium hatchback Baleno in Japan.
It is for the first time that an MSI-made model is being exported to Japan, where its parent SMC is based.
The launch was attended by SMC chairman Osamu Suzuki, his son and SMC’s president and chief operating officer Toshihiro Suzuki. The fatherson duo was accompanied by India’s ambassador to Japan Sujan R Chinoy.
The 1.2-litre Dualjet naturallyaspirated version of the Baleno has been lauched and the 1.0litre Boosterjet variant will be launched on May 13, SMC said in a statement.
Maruti Suzuki managing director and CEO, Kenichi Ayukawa said: “Launch of ‘Made in India’ Baleno in Japan is a proud moment for all of us. This reaffirms Maruti Suzuki’s manufacturing potential and growing importance of Maruti Suzuki in Suzuki Motor Corporation’s global business strategies”.
“The Baleno is a model developed with Suzuki’s expertise in building compact cars in pursuit of the ideal compact hatchback. The model embodies a harmonious and high-level combination of the elements expected in a compact car including design, comfort, and driving and safety performances,” he added.
Baleno, first exhibited at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015, was launched in India in October. The premium hatchback is manufactured at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar facility in Haryana.
The company has already sold 38,000 units of the model in India since its launch in October 2015.
Maruti had last month shipped its first consignment of 1,800 units from Mundra Port in Gujarat, where SMC has set up a manufacturing plant to supply cars to its Indian arm.
Maruti also plans to export Baleno to over 100 countries. The company and its supplier partners have invested ` 1,060 crore in the development of Baleno.
In the domestic market, the car has been well accepted and the company has over 80,000 bookings for the model.
It competes with the likes of Hyundai i20, Honda Jazz and Volkswagen Polo and is sold through the company’s premium network of showrooms, Nexa.
“Maruti Suzuki exports to over 125 countries including those in Europe, which is proof of their quality. I am confident that the Baleno will prove to be a huge success in Japan,” Chinoy said.
The launch of ‘Made in India’ Baleno in Japan is a proud moment for all of us. This reaffirms Maruti’s manufacturing potential and its growing importance in Suzuki’s global business strategies KENICHI AYUKAWA, MD and CEO, Maruti Suzuki