India's largest car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki, has announced a major logistics achievement, surpassing 3 million cumulative vehicle dispatches through its railway network. This marks a substantial increase in the company's reliance on rail freight, moving from just 5% of outbound logistics in FY15 to 26.5% in FY26. Notably, the most recent million-vehicle milestone was reached in a record 21 months.
Strategic Investments in Green Logistics
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO of Maruti Suzuki, highlighted the company's commitment to sustainable transportation, revealing an investment exceeding Rs 1,372 crore. This capital has been directed towards developing dedicated green logistics infrastructure, including in-plant railway sidings at its Hansalpur and Manesar manufacturing facilities, which collectively boast an annual dispatch capacity of 7.5 lakh vehicles. The company is also planning a new railway siding at its upcoming Kharkhoda plant.
Leveraging PM GatiShakti for Multimodal Transport
Maruti Suzuki credits the central government's PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for fostering an environment conducive to integrated multimodal logistics. This plan has been instrumental in supporting the industry's transition towards more efficient and environmentally friendly rail-led freight movement.
Expanding Reach and Future Goals
The automaker's extensive rail network connects over 600 cities through 22 logistics hubs, facilitating the transport of popular models such as the Dzire, WagonR, Swift, Brezza, Baleno, Fronx, and Grand Vitara. Additionally, key export hubs like Mundra and Pipavav ports are integrated into this railway system.
Maruti Suzuki's journey into green logistics began in 2013 when it became the first Indian automobile manufacturer to secure an Automobile Freight Train Operator (AFTO) licence. Looking ahead, the company aims to further increase the share of rail-based dispatches to 35% by FY31, reinforcing its long-term sustainability roadmap.