Maruti Suzuki India plans to dispatch 35% of its vehicles via Indian Railways by FY31, targeting 1.4 million units. The initiative supports its sustainability goals to cut carbon emissions and aligns with the government’s PM GatiShakti multimodal logistics strategy. The move marks a shift towards greener, more efficient transport as Maruti scales up production to 4 million units.
This shift in logistics strategy coincides with Maruti’s goal of scaling its annual production capacity to 4 million units by 2030. Speaking at the launch of its second in-plant railway siding at Manesar, Haryana, Managing Director and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi emphasised the importance of rail-based dispatch in reducing Maruti’s carbon footprint. The new Manesar siding follows the inauguration of a similar terminal in Gujarat in March 2024.
This represents a significant milestone in the company’s low-emission freight initiative. The Manesar terminal spans 46 acres and features 8.2 km of electrified tracks directly connected to the factory. At full capacity, it can handle up to 450,000 vehicles per year. Maruti estimates that the Manesar terminal alone will help avoid 175,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions and save 60 million litres of diesel annually by eliminating approximately 65,000 truck trips.
Developed as a GatiShakti multi-modal cargo terminal (GCT), the project was executed by Haryana Orbital Rail Corporation Ltd (HORCL)—a joint venture comprising HRIDC (55.4%), HSIIDC (19%), Maruti Suzuki (13%), Allcargo Logistics (7.6%), and GMDA (5%). The terminal is part of an ₹11,709 crore ($1.4 billion) investment and aligns with the government’s vision to shift freight from roads to rails.
Since FY15, Maruti has transported over 2.5 million vehicles by rail, operating 40 custom-built rakes and connecting 600 cities via 21 hubs. In FY25 alone, 518,000 units were moved this way. The Manesar terminal will handle key models like WagonR, Dzire, Ertiga, Brezza, and XL6, with routes extending to Pipavav and Mundra ports for exports.
The logistics transformation comes as Maruti faces rising pressure to align with tightening emissions norms and government-backed infrastructure reforms. By scaling up clean freight solutions, the automaker aims to reinforce its position as a market leader while reducing its environmental impact.