Maruti Suzuki produces its 20 millionth vehicle

Maruti Suzuki, India's largest carmaker, is not new to setting records. The company, which accounts for one in every two passenger vehicles sold in India, has added another feather to its cap as it has produced its 20 millionth vehicle in the country. Maruti's latest model, the third generation Swift, rolled off the production line at the company's Gujarat plant as its 20 millionth vehicle.

With the production milestone, India has become the second country after Japan in which parent company Suzuki has reached this milestone. It is even the fastest country to reach the 20 million units mark, achieving it in just 34 years and 5 months, breaking the record of 45 years and 9 months in Japan.

Suzuki’s automobile production in India started in December 1983 with its first model, the Maruti 800 by Maruti Udyog, which is what Maruti Suzuki was formerly known as.

Notably, the Alto was the most produced model with approximately 3.17 million units, followed by the Maruti 800, 2.91 million units of which were produced.

Interestingly, while the company touched the 10 million units milestone in 28 years since starting production, the journey from 10 million to 20 million units took just a little over 7 years, which also indicates the company's aggressive expansion in the country.

At present, production is carried out at the Gurgaon and Manesar plants of Maruti Suzuki, and Suzuki's plant, at Gujarat. These three production sites manufacture 16 models including the Dzire, Baleno, Alto, Swift, Wagon R, and Vitara Brezza. In FY2017, approximately 1.78 million units were produced in India, of which 1.65 million units were sold in India and 1,30,000 units were exported to over 100 countries and regions including Europe, Japan, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.