Maruti Suzuki's Rail Strategy Reaches Major Milestones
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has achieved a significant milestone, dispatching over one million vehicles cumulatively through its dedicated in-plant railway sidings. This strategic shift towards rail transportation underscores the company's commitment to enhancing logistical efficiency and sustainability. Looking ahead, Maruti Suzuki plans to further increase the share of rail-based vehicle dispatches to 35% by the financial year 2030-31, a substantial rise from 26.5% in FY 2025-26.
Dedicated In-Plant Sidings Drive Efficiency
The milestone of one million dispatches was achieved in just three years and five months since operations commenced at the Hansalpur, Gujarat, railway siding in March 2023, and the Manesar, Haryana, siding in June 2025. Maruti Suzuki is notably the first and only passenger vehicle OEM in India to integrate in-plant railway sidings directly into its manufacturing facilities. The Gujarat siding alone accounted for approximately 7.9 lakh vehicles, while the Manesar facility contributed around 2.1 lakh vehicles to this achievement.
An in-plant railway siding is a specialized rail terminal built within a manufacturing plant, enabling direct loading of vehicles onto trains, thereby eliminating the need for road transport to external railway stations. This infrastructure development aligns with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, focusing on integrated infrastructure planning and multimodal connectivity.
Environmental and Economic Benefits
The transition from road to rail for vehicle transportation offers multiple benefits, including a significant reduction in carbon emissions, decreased fuel consumption, and alleviation of road congestion. This move is a crucial step in Maruti Suzuki's broader efforts to create a more sustainable logistics network.
“With our Gujarat and Manesar in-plant railway sidings contributing to 70% of total rail-based dispatches in the current fiscal, we are making strong progress in scaling up rail-based vehicle transportation,” stated Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki. “Our share of rail-based vehicle dispatches has grown from 5% in FY15 to 26.5% in FY26. Our mid-term goal is to increase rail-based vehicle dispatches to 35% by FY31 through continued investment in rail infrastructure, including an in-plant siding at our new Kharkhoda facility. This will improve the efficiency of our sustainable logistics network and support India’s Net Zero ambitions.”
Expanding Sustainable Logistics
Beyond the in-plant sidings, Maruti Suzuki has cumulatively dispatched over 3.3 million vehicles via rail since FY 2015. While one million of these came from the dedicated in-plant facilities, the remaining dispatches utilized external loading terminals. The automaker's total vehicle dispatches via rail have already surpassed the 3 lakh mark in the current fiscal year up to August 31, demonstrating a consistent upward trend. The company plans to further expand its dedicated rail infrastructure with a new in-plant railway siding at its upcoming Kharkhoda manufacturing facility in Haryana, solidifying its leadership in sustainable vehicle logistics.