Suzuki Motor Gujarat (SMG), a 100 percent subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation for automobiles production, has completed construction of the new Gujarat plant in Hansalpur. SMG will start manufacturing production models from February 1.

SMG, Suzuki’s first automobile production company in India with 100 percent investment, was set up in March 2014. It aims to have the production ability to ride the automobile market growth in the country, as well as expand exports.

Located close to the Mundra Port, the Gujarat plant will be used as an export hub for markets such as Europe, Africa, and Japan. Vehicles produced at the Gujarat plant will be supplied to Maruti Suzuki India. Initially, the Baleno hatchback will be manufactured here. The production line-up will be increased according to the market situation.

With the Gujarat plant going on stream, a hard-pressed-for-capacity Maruti will breathe a sigh of relief. Popular models such as the Baleno and the Vitara Brezza SUV (whose total bookings have crossed the 2,00,000 mark in less than a year since launch) currently have long waiting periods.

The Gujarat plant has a capacity of 2,50,000 units and will gradually put Maruti’s production back on track. A second plant in Gujarat, along with engine/transmission plants are slated for operation in the beginning of 2019.