First shipment of 1,760 made-in-India Suzuki Balenos reaches Japan

The right-hand-drive, automatic (CVT-equipped) sedans are now being unloaded at the Toyohashi Port.

By Shobha Mathur

22 Feb 2016

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First shipment of 1,760 made-in-India Suzuki Balenos reaches Japan

The first export consignment of 1,760 made-in-India Balenos has reached Japan. The right-hand-drive, automatic (CVT-equipped) hatchbacks are now being unloaded at the Toyohashi Port, which is the largest port in Japan used for import and export of motor vehicles and located in the vicinity of Nagoya.

This is Maruti Suzuki India’s first shipment of the global model to parent Suzuki Motor Corporation. The consignment of Balenos left Mundra Port in Gujarat on January 29 and reached Japan on February 15. Manufactured at the carmaker’s Manesar plant, the Baleno was launched last October and will be exported to about 100 global markets.

Toshihiro Suzuki, president and COO of Suzuki Motor Corporation, had revealed that shipments of the Baleno had commenced in end-January while outlining the Japanese carmaker’s mid-term management plan at the Auto Expo Motor Show at Greater Noida this month.

This marks the first time that a domestic carmaker has exported an India-made car to the Japanese market. Maruti also plans on exporting the Baleno to over 100 markets worldwide. Initial volumes of 5,000-6,000 units a month are on the radar as exports to Japan and Europe. It may be recollected that Autocar Professional had broken the news about Maruti exporting the Balenos to Japan on October 26, 2015.

The exclusively made-in-India Baleno was launched in New Delhi on October 26, 2015 and its Japanese specification was also showcased at the Tokyo Motor Show. With 31,573 units sold between October 2015-January 2016, the Baleno has become one of the star performers for Maruti Suzuki India in the domestic market.

Speaking at the Baleno’s global reveal last year, Kenichi Ayukawa, managing director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, had said: “The Baleno is not only for India but for the global markets and will be exported to 100 countries from India. This model will be exported to Japan from India, opening a new chapter in the long history of Maruti Suzuki. The Baleno will be the first ‘Make in India and sell’ global model for Maruti Suzuki.”