Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday commissioned its next generation KB Series engine plant as part of its strategy to achieve sales of one million in the domestic market by 2010-11. The KB series Engine with a displacement of 998 cc will power the company’s forthcoming model A-Star, which is expected to be launched next month.

“The new engine series is an important step towards attaining the target sales of a million units in the domestic market by 2010-11. The operational capacity of our pant have reached the million mark,” Maruti Suzuki India Managing Director Shinzo Nakanishi said. “This new engine is highly fuel efficient while also offering best in refinement and performance. It will take engine technology to the next level in India,” Nakanishi added.

The new plant spread over an area of 20,300 sq metre has a capacity of producing 2.4 lakh engines per annum. It has been set up as part of the investment of Rs 9,000 crore that the company had announced earlier.

After A-Star, the KB series engine will be progressively introduced to other models over a period of 3-5 years. The new engine will also power the export version of A-Star and the company plans to commence overseas shipment by early next year.