Will also compete with newcomers: MSI MD Kenichi Ayukawa

New Delhi: The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) will not only defend its market share but also "charge" at and "chase" competitors in the wake of newcomers, such as Kia and Chinese players, intensifying competition, according to a top company official.

MSI, which had a share of 50.59 per cent in the passenger vehicles market in the April-January period of the current financial year, is not new to competition and will focus not only on new products but enhance its customer relationship in order to maintain its grip in the Indian car market.

"I am not defending, I am charging. We are charging anytime. If they are good products, we try to chase them," MSI Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said.

He was responding to a query on how prepared the company is to defend its market share in India as competition is hotting up with the entry of Kia Motors and MG Motor, while China's Great Wall Motors and Haima Automobiles is also set to enter the market.

According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in the April 2019-January 2020 period, Maruti Suzuki sold a total of 12,04,404 units of passenger vehicles cornering 50.59 per cent market share.

Total PV sales during the period stood at 23,80,699 units. Stressing that the company is used to competition, Ayukawa said, "Competition itself is there any time.

In the 1990s, new players came in and so the competition was there. Some new players are coming in. This time, players from Korea and China are coming."

He further said, "We have to do by ourselves to develop our product portfolio and manage our business itself to encourage customers and also set up strong sales and service network. Through those kind of activity maybe we can compete better."

When asked if the company would need some more stand-out models, especially in the SUVs segment, Ayukawa said, "We have to develop new models, but car business is not only about products. It is also about how you take care of your customers."