Voted the ‘Man Of The Year’ at the 2017 NDTV Car And Bike Awards, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Kenichi Ayukawa has been promoted to the position of Executive Vice President, Suzuki Global. This change in guard is a level up from his older post as Senior Managing Officer, Suzuki Global. Kenichi Ayukawa is now in the second highest rung of global Suzuki management, just below the likes of the Chairman, Osamu Suzuki. Kenichi Ayukawa was responsible for Maruti’s grand comeback in recent times, including the launch of the ultra successful Baleno and Vitara Brezza and the recent launch of the Maruti Suzuki Dzire that has already racked up a huge 33,000 bookings even before the official price was announced.
Watch: Maruti Suzuki Dzire First Look Video
New Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire
Kenichi Ayukawa was also responsible for the likes of the Ciaz sedan, the entry level Alto K10 in its updated avatar and the Ignis along with performance oriented products like the Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS. He was also responsible for the premium Nexa chain of dealerships that cater to the more feature rich and more upmarket products that are in the Maruti Suzuki lineup. In terms of business growth, Maruti Suzuki has gone from 38.27 per cent in FY 2011-2012 to a domination 47.80 per cent in FY 2016-2017. Maruti Suzuki has also seen nearly consistent double digit growth in the last few years riding on the wave of extremely popular cars and utility vehicles.
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza
Speaking to NDTV Car And Bike’s Siddharth Patankar recently, Kenichi Ayukawa said, “Maruti Suzuki is looking beyond the 2 million volume in 2020. We have to develop new models by ourselves by collaborating with parent Suzuki Motor Company. Continuously we have to make such approach.” He added, “There is a huge possibility that a global product for Suzuki could soon come out of the Indian R&D facilities.” This cements India’s place in the global scheme of things for Suzuki that has been struggling in key markets including the likes of the United States that it has now officially left from. No wonder the man behind Maruti Suzuki’s unparalleled success in India has been appointed to a position that is key to Suzuki globally.
Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS
Before taking charge as the Managing Director at Maruti Suzuki India Limited Kenichi Ayukawa has served as Managing Executive Officer and Executive General Manager, Global Marketing at Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan. Kenichi Ayukawa has served as Managing Director of Pak Suzuki Motor Company from May 2004 to June 2008. He served as Director on the Board of Maruti Suzuki India Limited from July 2008 to March 2013.
