Suzuki Motor Corp plans to make India an export hub

Japanese auto giant Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) today said it planned to make India an export hub for its small cars, mainly for European and African markets.

"For Europe, Africa and West Asia (Middle East), we are looking at India as an export hub," SMC Chairman Osamu Suzuki said at the Nikkei Business Summit here.

He said the country's infrastructure needed to be developed in order to make India an exports hub.

"As we want to use India as an export hub, ports are very important. We would like to request the government to improve them (ports)," he added.

SMC's subsidiary Maruti Suzuki India had exported 1.47 lakh units from the country in 2009-10.

When asked about SMC's deal with German auto maker Volkswagen, Suzuki said, "Suzuki Japan and Volkswagen Germany are in talks. Maruti Suzuki has nothing to do with those talks."

Last year, Volkswagen had picked up 19.9 per cent stake in SMC for $2.5 billion (around Rs 11,450 crore), since then the two companies have been discussing plans for joint production, engine development and a small car project for India.