India’s top passenger vehicle manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, announced surpassing a significant milestone by dispatching over 30 lakh vehicles through the Indian Railways network. Over the past decade, the company has progressively increased its usage of rail transport in its outbound logistics operations. Initially constituting only 5% of total vehicle dispatches in FY2014-15, rail-based dispatches have now surged to 26.5% in FY2025-26.
The journey from two million to three million cumulative rail dispatches was accomplished in a mere 21 months, marking the fastest addition of one million units through railway transportation in the company’s history. Hisashi Takeuchi, commenting on this achievement, emphasized its importance in Maruti Suzuki’s green logistics journey. He highlighted that rail-based dispatches have grown nearly ninefold since 2014 and currently contribute more than a quarter of the company’s total vehicle movement.
Maruti Suzuki has allocated over Rs 13,720 million towards dedicated green logistics infrastructure, with a focus on enhancing sustainability. The company acknowledged the government’s PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for facilitating an integrated and multimodal logistics framework that supports the transition towards rail-led freight transportation. Looking forward, Maruti Suzuki aims to elevate the share of rail-based dispatches to 35% by FY2030-31, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable practices.
The company also disclosed plans to establish an in-plant railway siding at its upcoming Kharkhoda facility, aiming to reduce carbon emissions, fuel consumption, and road congestion. Maruti Suzuki stands out as the sole passenger vehicle manufacturer in India operating railway sidings within two of its manufacturing units at Hansalpur in Gujarat and Manesar in Haryana. These facilities, developed under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, boast a combined annual dispatch capacity of 7.5 lakh vehicles, contributing significantly to efficient logistics operations.
The extensive rail network services over 600 cities through 22 hubs under a hub-and-spoke logistics model, enhancing the reach and efficiency of Maruti Suzuki’s logistics operations.
