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Maruti Suzuki moves
A-star for Europe on Auto Wagons
Double Decker rail rake spearheads revolution in automotive logistics
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| New Delhi, December 26, 2008 |
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Maruti Suzuki India
Limited, country's leading car maker makes another historic beginning
towards becoming an export hub of small cars as it kick starts the
dispatch of A-star, Suzuki world strategic model, from India.
The first consignment of A-star for export left in a specially designed
Auto Wagon Railway Rake from Gurgaon railway station. Mr. RK Rao, Member
Mechanical, Indian Railway Board and Mr. MM Singh, Managing Executive
Officer (Production), Maruti Suzuki India Limited flagged off the
railway carrier for Mundra Port.
On the occasion, Mr. MM Singh said, "The dispatch of first consignment
of A-star from Gurgaon is a quantum leap for Maruti Suzuki towards
company's future as a small car manufacturing hub for Suzuki, Japan.
Majority of this export will comprise the newly launched A-Star for
Europe. The A-star cars will be sold under Suzuki Alto brand in Europe.
Maruti Suzuki has invested into a new port and dedicated car handling
facility at Mundra port in Gujarat. We have signed a long term agreement
with MPSEZL (Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone Limited)."
Earlier, Maruti Suzuki had announced to scale-up the export of its
existing models to one lakh units. Simultaneously, Maruti Suzuki will
export large volumes of A-star to European markets beginning 2009.
Suzuki has chosen India as an exclusive base for manufacturing and
export of A-star to all major European markets.
Despatch of the first consignment of A-Star cars by Auto-Wagon Railway
Rake is also a revolutionary event for country's automotive logistics
and a step towards putting in place required infrastructure for large
scale exports of automobiles from India.
Until now, Maruti Suzuki has transported over 2 lakh cars by Rail mode
in NMG (New Modified Goods) rakes developed in-house by Indian Railways.
In addition, the company has been extensively deploying road carriers
for transportation of cars.
But to facilitate smooth export of this large volume of cars, a next
generation automobile transport mechanism was needed that not only
ensured increased safety, it also offered operational cost efficiencies,
the factors that are critical to maintain cost competencies in export
markets and succeed as an export hub.
The Auto-Wagons will add up to Maruti Suzuki's capacity to handle large
scale transportation of cars. "We intend to use Auto-Wagon rakes for
transportation of A-star and other models to Mundra port as well as
other destinations for domestic market. Besides, smooth and cost
effective logistics, we will also be contributing significantly to
de-congestion of country's roads", said Mr. MM Singh.
The Indian Railways has developed two Auto-Wagon rakes, each consisting
of 45 wagons. Each wagon is a double deck covered structure, built on
container flat deck carriage and has a capacity of 6 compact cars. A
railway rake, with 45 such bogies has a total capacity of 270 cars.
The two rakes will be available to all automobile manufacturers for
transportation of cars. |
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