Indian Cars, Bikes

Japanese auto major Suzuki Motor Corporation has asked its Indian subsidiary Maruti Suzuki to enhance the level of research and development (R&D) for small car engines to meet growing demands.

“Engines below 1,200 cc get excise benefit from the government of India and currently 60-70 per cent of R&D for these engines takes place in Japan. Now Osamu Suzuki wants 90 per cent of the R&D to be done in India. It is important that Maruti develops these engines in India with help from Japan. The R&D efforts will also have to enable our vehicles to meet the new emission and safety regulations, which are to come into force in 2010,” Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R C Bhargava said.

Already Suzuki has announced its plans to make India an R&D hub and bring the level of product developments to that in Japan.