Maruti’s five millionth car

Maruti single handedly shaped the Indian automobile market. At a time when Ambassadors and Fiat (Premier Padmini) ruled the road, this company in collaboration with Suzuki from Japan started the revolution with a tiny car they called Maruti 800. The car still is a hot seller though Maruti’s another offering Alto has taken over the crown of the largest selling car in India.

The company rolled out its five millionth Maruti car from its factory at Gurgaon recently. This interestingly took place just a day before the Japanese Prime Minister, Jonichiro Koizumi’s visit to India. The news was released to the media by the company’s Managing Director, Jagdish Khattar. Unfortunately, the exciting news came with a possible warning that the company might hike the prices of all their cars in the coming month due to logistical issues.

Khattar said: “The original Maruti vision of providing a people’s car articulated over two decades ago, has helped transform the Indian manufacturing landscape and touched the lives of millions of Indians.” The first Maruti was of course an 800 and it rolled out more than 20 years ago on 14 December 1983.

The milestone followed the company as it touched its first million in 1994, second in 1997. 2000 saw the third millionth car from the company while, the four millionth car made appearance rather quickly in 2003. The latest million-car achievement is the fastest yet as it arrives in just a period of 2 years. With plans to open a new engine development plan in collaboration with global giants, the company is looking forward to an even brighter future.