New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has set a new benchmark in green logistics by surpassing the milestone of 2 million cumulative vehicle dispatches using railways. This achievement makes Maruti Suzuki the first automobile company in India to reach this eco-friendly milestone.
Rapid Growth in Rail Dispatches
Maruti Suzuki has significantly increased its use of railways for vehicle dispatches, scaling up from 65,700 units in FY 2014-15 to an impressive 447,750 units in FY 2023-24. Railways provide a congestion-free, safer, and more energy-efficient alternative to road transportation. Currently, the company dispatches vehicles to 20 destinations, serving over 450 cities across India.
Commitment to Sustainability
Mr. Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, highlighted the company’s pioneering efforts in using railways for vehicle dispatches. “Maruti Suzuki pioneered the use of railways for vehicle dispatches over a decade ago by becoming the first company in India to obtain the Automobile-Freight-Train-Operator license. Since then, we have systematically increased our share of vehicle dispatches using railways,” he said.
Through these efforts, Maruti Suzuki has achieved remarkable results, including a cumulative reduction of approximately 10,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions and savings of around 270 million liters of fuel. With plans to nearly double its production capacity from 2 million units to 4 million units by FY 2030-31, the company aims to increase the use of railways for vehicle dispatches to nearly 35% over the next 7-8 years. This aligns with the Government of India’s target of achieving net zero emissions by 2070.
Infrastructure Enhancements
Earlier this year, under the PM Gati Shakti program, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first automobile in-plant railway siding at Maruti Suzuki’s Gujarat facility. This facility can dispatch approximately 300,000 vehicles per annum. Another in-plant railway siding is under development at the Manesar facility and will be operational soon.
The use of Indian railways for vehicle dispatches supports the objectives of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #13, which focuses on climate action.
Maruti Suzuki’s commitment to green logistics not only sets a precedent in the automotive industry but also contributes significantly to environmental sustainability.
