Suzuki Motor Corporation chief Osamu Suzuki is busy penning blueprint for new projects like diesel cars in India and export of Nissan models, but has decided to stick on with old warhorses, i.e. Maruti 800 and Zen — by far the most successful offering in India from the Japanese company in terms of sheer volume.

“These models will continue to be marketed as options for first-time drivers,” he said on Wednesday.

The statement scotches all persisting speculations over the phase-out of these entry-level modes in favour of Alto and Wagon-R.

Mr Suzuki said the company would go into an expansion overdrive in India to create additional capacity for nearly 8,00,000 vehicles every year. The Japanese company already produces more than 5,00,000 cars in India every year.

The Suzuki chairman and CEO said further his company was not interested in hiking its stake in the Indian venture beyond the current 54%. Speaking on the sidelines of an Indo-Japan summit here, he said there was no question of negotiating with the Indian government for picking up its residual stake in Maruti.

“It is a Suzuki company now. Starting from 26%, we have gradually moved to 54%. We are not interested to further increase our holding,” he said while replying to a specific query.

Nissan models would be produced in India primarily for export to Europe, Mr Suzuki stressed. He did not, however, rule out the possibility of producing new Suzuki models in India for export markets. “We want to focus on exports and foreign exchange earnings,” the veteran said.

The recent agreement with Fiat for diesel engines could lead to production of 1 lakh diesel cars in India by ’07-08, Mr Suzuki said. Capacity expansion in India would be carried out in three phases, calibrated on the basis of demand.

The investment for the diesel car venture would come from the parent company while the rest would be funded by the Indian arm.

The chairman clarified that he had no regrets about entering the Indian market 24 years ago when others were keeping off. “Vendors thought it was impossible to build a car in India.

There was no support from Japanese vendors,” he explained. “Hard work in the initial days led to high level of indiginisation and the capability of India is acknowledged now.”

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