Business - Maruti turns 25, sets eyes on becoming top global player

W DELHI: At a time when the Indian automobile industry is passing through one of its worst phases, the country's largest car-maker, Maruti Suzuki
India, will celebrate its 25th anniversary and is aiming to be a global player.

"Twenty-five years ago, when we set out on our journey, the objective was to modernise the Indian automotive industry and bring about a change in personal transportation. I can say proudly we have achieved that," Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R C Bhargava told PTI.

He said in the 25 years to come, the company's objective would to be to take its mission forward and become a global player.

"Now we want to be a global player in every sense ... from research and development and designing cars to manufacturing; we want to be among the best in the world," he said.

Bhargava said although the current market conditions are tough, they would not deter the company in striving to achieve its goals.

"The future will be even more challenging, but we are up for it," he added.

Since the rollout of the first Maruti 800 (M800) from its Gurgaon plant on December 14, 1983, the company has so far sold over 70 lakh cars of 12 models with over 100 variants, with the M800 alone accounting for 27,36,046 units, of which 25,43,132 units were in the domestic market and the rest abroad.