Vehicle deployments via railroads for the biggest automaker in the nation climbed from 65,700 units in 2014–15 to 4,47,750 units in 2023–24. Picture courtesy of Maruti Suzuki
Suzuki Maruti According to MD and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi, India intends to use Indian Railways to transport 35% of the vehicles manufactured throughout its plants over the course of the next seven to eight years.
From 5% in the 2014–15 fiscal year to 21.5% in the 2023–24 fiscal year, more vehicles were dispatched by railroads.
The largest automaker in the nation dispatched 4,47,750 vehicles via railroads in 2023–24, up from 65,700 units in 2014–15.
“With our production capacity nearly doubling from about 2 million units to 4 million units by FY 2030-31, we plan to augment the use of railways in vehicle dispatches, close to 35 per cent over the next 7-8 years,” Takeuchi said.
More than two million Maruti Suzuki vehicles have been shipped via Indian Railways to date. Using Indian railways, the carmaker serves over 450 places by ferrying cars to 20 different destinations.
Takeuchi stated that the company was the first in India to get the Automobile-Freight-Train-Operator licence, which allowed it to pioneer the use of railways for vehicle deliveries more than ten years ago.
He continued, “Since then, the company has steadily increased its share of vehicle dispatches via railroads.”
“Through our sustained efforts in green logistics, we have achieved outstanding results including cumulative reduction of 10,000 metric tonne of CO2 emissions and 270 million litre of cumulative fuel savings,” Takeuchi stated.
He continued, “The company is committed to the nation’s net zero emissions target by 2070.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the nation’s first car in-plant railway siding at Maruti Suzuki’s Gujarat plant earlier this year as part of the PM Gati Shakti initiative.
This facility can send out three lakh autos annually.
The company’s Manesar site is currently working on its next in-plant railway siding, which is expected to be operational shortly, according to the manufacturer.