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Journalism of Courage
Tough times for the domestic car industry notwithstanding,the man whose positive report card on the Indian market nearly four decades back set the stage for the Suzukis entry into the country,continues to be upbeat as ever.
Shinzo Nakanishi,at his last media briefing in his current role as Maruti Suzuki India Ltds managing director and CEO on Friday,was unambiguous in his bullish outlook even at a time when car sales are slated to clock the steepest decline in 12 years:
Nakanishi,known as a close confidante of Osamu Suzuki,was the first person to come from Suzuki in 1981 when the Indian government was negotiating the joint venture. His report on India set the stage based on which Suzuki decided to put in its investment in the country. Recounting the exercise,Nakanishi admits that in those days,the Japanese firm just didnt know India at all.
But when he came down to India,Nakanishi says he felt extremely confident. First,I felt India was promising. Second,we had a feeling that the government was a good partner. Maruti Udyog Ltd was formed as a result of the Nakanishi report,following which a joint venture was signed between Suzuki Motor Corporation and the government. It has been an extraordinary run for the companys maiden launch,a car it did not even bother to christen.
Since the roll out of its first Maruti 800 on December 14,1983,in terms of number of cars produced and sold,Maruti has grown into Suzuki Motors largest subsidiary worldwide. More importantly,Maruti set the platform for India to emerge as the car manufacturing hub that it has progressively transformed into.
Nakanishi believes that the Indian market continues to look positive,unlike most markets abroad. Whats the biggest threat that he sees for Maruti Suzuki in India? In Japan,the youngsters do not have the same interest in buying a car,instead preferring to use public transport in cities such as Tokyo. If such a scenario were to happen in India,then surely we have no chance, he says,in lighter vein. Apart from India,in his long years with Suzuki,Nakanishi has served as the groups key person in markets such as China,Indonesia,Hungary and Pakistan.
Stepping down has its positives,he says,and that hes relieved that he can spend more time with his family. Incidentally,his daughter,who was born in India,is slated to get married this year.
Whether he will stay on in some advisory role in India,Nakanishi is remarkably candid: I want to8230; But its Mr Osamu Suzukis decision.
MSIL to continue thrust on diesel
Maruti Suzuki India is open to curtailing production again if the slump in car sales continue,the companys Chairman RC Bhargava said on Friday. The company continues to see growth and volumes from the diesel segment in the coming year. It plans to dedicate its third production line at Manesar mainly to diesel models as it sees the share of these cars in overall volumes to surge from 33 per cent to about 40 per cent by the end of next fiscal.
