Leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki today said its all models, including the Maruti 800 and Omni, are going through various modifications and upgradation to meet Bharat Stage IV emission norms.
"Our new K series engines are very efficient compared to previous generation engines. So, we are now working on all existing engines to improve the after treatment on emission of the gases," Maruti Suzuki India's Managing Executive Officer (Engineering) I V Rao said told reporters after launching the new Ritz model here.
"We are basically working on catalysers on the same engines for different models to meet the Bharat stage norms, that will come into effect from April 2010," Rao said. On reports that Maruti would phase out 800 and Omni models by 2015, Rao said, "We are working on to upgrade the Maruti 800 and Omni besides developing compliant models to meet the new emission norms."
"Based on preliminary tests, we are confident that we will be able to comply both Maruti and Omni with Bharat Stage emissions norms, which means it will not only meet BS norms, but it will continue beyond 2010," Rao said. Maruti Suzuki has plans to roll out its first indigenous model in the next three years, he said adding "we are developing a new model on existing platform, all by our engineers at Maruti in India."
"We have just started the initial activities for this model and its likely to take about 3 years to functionalise," Rao said adding "Regarding segment, what type of model, what engine are being still debated and discussed. "We are doing the basic discussions with our marketing division to identify the exact positioning of this model, based on which we would be developing the concept," Rao said.
He said they were increasing their engineers at R&D centres in the country from 720 engineers to 1,000 by March 2010, who would consist of fresh and experienced recruits. As part of the Rs 9,000 crore investment in India, Maruti Suzuki will have an additional engineering centre in Haryana on 500 acre.
"We now have our engineering centre in Gurgaon plant which also caters for Manesar plant. We are now looking at land for setting up the improving grounds," he said. "It will be for crash facility, test tracks, evaluation of new models and other facilities for testing the performance of the vehicle and its durability," Rao said.
Reacting to a query, he said, "In the last 4-5 months most of the manufacturers have seen growth and with elections outcome, I am sure it will further peg up the market." Reacting to another query on Gypsy category, Rao said, "Whatever diesel engine we have got right now, it doesn't get into Gypsy body. And in the existing form its not possible to have diesel option for Gypsy."
