Maruti Suzuki India, the local unit of Suzuki Corporation, has got a new CEO after ten years.
Current CEO Kenichi Ayukawa will step down next week and his place will be taken by the current Joint MD Commercial, Hisashi Takeuchi.
Takeuchi joined Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) in 1986.
“With vast experience in the international operations at SMC as well as in overseas markets, he has been on the Board of Maruti Suzuki since July 2019 and as Joint Managing Director (Commercial) since April 2021”, India’s largest carmaker said.
Current CEO Kenichi Ayukawa will continue as a Executive Vice Chairman till 30th September, 2022, and will help in the transition.
Takeuchi promised that he will try to bring out “exciting cars” that are good for consumers, the environment and society.
The move comes at a crucial time for Maruti Suzuki, which has found itself under attack on various fronts.
The company’s traditional petrol-car business has been suffering due to extreme competition from new entrants like Kia as well as revamped traditional rivals like Tata Motors.
More worryingly, Maruti Suzuki is seen as having fallen behind others like Tata Motors and MG on the crucial electric vehicle front.
Maruti Suzuki has traditionally competed on a price-cum-value footing, but has found even that plank under attack by others.