The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki Limited is working on ways to bring down the wait period for its popular models Swift, Swift Dzire and Ertiga.
It is planning to set up four large stockyards and warehouses in the country with an outlay of about Rs 900 crore. The wait list goes up to 3-6 months in some models. Stockyards will bring down delivery time.
"The company is working on ways to bring down the wait period and hopes to achieve this by March 2013 as we add capacity and also firm up with suppliers. We are setting up stockyards and warehouses which will help us deliver within three days, saving on transport time," S.Y.Siddiqui, Chief Operating officer of HR, Finance, Maruti Suzuki, said.
Speaking on the sidelines of HRD Network conference here, the Maruti official said after Bangalore yard, Nagpur will be second to come up by April next and this will be followed by Siliguri and another one in Jharkhand. Typically, these yards are located on a 40-acre site and stock up vehicles and spares, supporting the local area."
Recruitment
"The company, which has a workforce of about 9,850 employees, is planning to induct about 1,000 to 1,200 people by September next when the Manesar plant will be commissioned. We may induct 1,200 people more when we commission the plant in Gujarat plant in 2015," he said.
Maruti has adopted 11 ITIs and plans to increase this number to 50 within three years. Thus far more than 4,000 people have been trained and deployed with service centres. By skilling youngsters in areas where there is demand in the marketplace, Maruti plans to add to the skilled pool.
Referring to the market conditions, he said the sentiment had improved from October and the second half is expected to do be better for automakers.
Levy on diesel cars
On the Government move to levy duty on diesel cars, he felt this was not the best way to tackle subsidy issue. The best way is to bring down diesel subsidy. Maruti and the industry body SIAM will take up the issue with the Government, he said.