Maruti Suzuki Board of Directors has appointed Hisashi Takeuchi as new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for three years with effect from 1st April 2022, consequent upon completion of the term of Kenichi Ayukawa on 31st March 2022.
Kenichi Ayukawa, the current managing director of India’s largest carmaker, will continue as a whole-time director, designated as executive vice-chairman for a period of six months till September 30, 2022.
These appointments are subject to shareholders’ approval.
Hisashi Takeuchi joined Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) in 1986 and started his professional journey with the Overseas Marketing Department, Europe Group of SMC.
“I thank the board of directors for placing this trust in me. Maruti Suzuki is a great organization with a rich legacy and it will be my endeavour that we keep serving more and more customers both in India and the world with exciting cars that are good for them, environment, and society. We will also try to build our business in a manner that strengthens Atma-Nirbhar Bharat and the economic growth of India,” Hisashi Takeuchi said in a press statement.
Earlier this month, R.C. Bhargava, the chairman of Maruti Suzuki, told Fortune India that the country cannot simply imitate the EV models adopted by the western world. “India is very different from Europe and other western nations, including the U.S. If we just adopt whatever strategies they are following, I don’t think we will be doing justice to what we need to do in India,” he said.
“We use a very large number of scooters and motorcycles in India; the number is well over 200 million. None of the countries use two-wheelers for personal mobility,” he added. “Car penetration in India is close to 3%, whereas in the E.U., it is over 50%, and in the U.S., it is about 87%.”
