Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) started production at its Manesar plant on Tuesday after being shutdown since March 22 when the first phase of the lockdown began.

The company’s Gurgaon plant remains shut with no indications from the company regarding its opening. The Manesar plant operated in a single shift with 50 per cent workers present and cars were rolled out.

“We made a start in a small way with limited number of models,” said MSIL chairman R.C. Bhargava. The company has permission to start operation with up to 75 per cent of its workforce granted by the Haryana government in April 22. “The supply chain is absolutely not firm right now,” said Bhargava.

The company has permission to start its Gurgaon plant as well with 4,696 employees. Asked when production will commence in Gurgaon, Bhargava said: “It will start but not now.” Both the plants together have an installed capacity of 15.5 lakh cars per annum. While the Manesar plant falls outside the city limits of Gurgaon, the Gurgaon plant is right in the middle.

Toyota dealers

Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Tuesday said its dealerships and aftersales operations have partially resumed operations. The company said 171 dealership outlets and 146 service outlets are also operational nationally.

When asked about the timeline for full production to commence, Bhargava said that would depend on government regulations like when two shifts would be allowed, when manpower could be increased and when the supply-chain would become fitter.

Asked how sales will be impacted, Bhargava said there would be 20 to 25 per cent lower sales for the industry this year against last year. He said the government should look at keeping taxes on cars at a reasonable level. “I have always held that cars are too heavily taxed in India by both the central government as well by the as state governments… The result is that carmakers in India pay much higher taxes than in most other developed parts of world,” he noted.

The Manesar plant manufactures Alto 800, Alto K10, Swift, Ciaz, Baleno, Baleno RS and Celerio. The Gurgaon plant manufactures the Alto 800, Wagon R, Ertiga, S-Cross, Vitara Brezza, Ignis and Eeco.

Toyota Kirloskar Motors and Honda Cars started retailing with partial resumption of dealerships While Toyota reopened 171 dealership outlets and 146 service outlets, Honda reopened 118 showrooms and 155 service outlets. Bothe companies have rolled out standing operating procedures for its dealerships.