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Maruti Manesar plant to open next Tuesday Hyundai begins preparations; a few others restart operations SHALLY SETH MOHILE Mumbai, 6 May Carmakers fter being shuttered for more than a month fol- go all out for A lowing the nationwide lockdown, automobile facto- first-time ries and their suppliers will buyers soon start cranking out mod- els, parts, and sub-assemblies, To woo first-time buyers, as the government allows auto firms are firming up industrial activity to restart in plans to offer tailor- select regions of the country. made finance schemes On Wednesday, a clutch of with a much lower automakers including Maruti down-payment option Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp, SHIFTING GEAR for entry-level models. Mercedes Benz India, Eicher Digital shopping and Motors, TVS Motor, and Isuzu MARUTI HERO MOTOCORP doorstep delivery Motors India announced they May 12: Restart of May 6: Commences production wouldwill also be crucial had got the clearance from the production at all three plants for buying cars at a time governments of the states they 600: No. of when social distancing is operate in to resume operations. operational dealerships BAJAJ AUTO at the centre of all The companies also May 5: April 22: activities, writes announced opening their deal- HYUNDAI Production Aurangabad Arindam Majumder 2 > erships in a phased manner. May 6: Begins preparations commences and Pantnagar Maruti Suzuki, India’s 150: No. of at Chakan plants resume largest carmaker, said it would operational dealerships plant work pandemic. restart production at its Among the major auto Manesar plant on May 12. ROYAL ENFIELD markets of the world, India “All activities would be car- May 6: Phased operations was the only country to have ried out strictly in accordance 120: No. of dealerships that reported no sales, according to begin at Oragadam unit, have begun partial with government regulations Chennai IHS Markit, a sales forecast and guidelines and observing operations and research arm. the company’s own concern Source: Companies All the firms that resume for the highest standards of operations or have done so safety,” Maruti Suzuki said in a operating procedures. India, the world’s fifth- reiterated their commitment stock exchange notification. Hero MotoCorp, the coun- largest auto market by vol- to meet the highest standards Maruti Suzuki has re- try’s largest two-wheeler play- umes, reported no sales in of hygiene and social-distanc- opened 600 of its 3,086 deal- er, began operations in a grad- April, which is a first in its his- ing norms. Most of them have erships in the past few days ed manner at three tory, as dealerships and facto- indicated the start will be in after putting in place standard manufacturing plants. ries remained shut due to the single shift. Turn to Page 6 >

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SANJAY KUMAR SINGH > FROM PAGE 1 Maruti Manesar plant... Luxury car market leader Mercedes- phased manner. Hyundai Motors Benz India said it had started pro- India and Toyota Kirloskar have duction at its manufacturing facility begun preparatory work. Meanwhile, at Chakan, Pune. “Production has Honda Cars India said it had not commenced in a graded manner fol- been able to resume production at lowing directives from the govern- either of the two plants due to ment of Maharashtra to reopen and restricted movements of manpower resume operations. The company and lack of clearance from the local will plan a gradual ramp-up in the authorities. coming weeks, depending on the “With the new relaxations rolled evolving current situation, which is out by the government, we were being monitored closely by the lead- planning to restart operations at our ership team,” it said. Tapukara plant in Rajasthan some- TVS Motor Company said it had time next week,” said a Honda commenced operations in all its fac- spokesperson. tories in Hosur, Mysuru, and However, in order to resume pro- Nalagarh. The company has taken duction even at a lower level and in measures to ensure a safe workplace a single shift, the company requires for employees with appropriate people living in the neighbourhood social distancing and highest stan- and also from nearby areas of dards of hygiene, it said. Dharuhera, Rewari etc. Eicher Motors resumed Royal Owing to travel restrictions it is Enfield operations at its manufac- unable to get its workers. “We will turing facilities on May 6, the com- keep assessing manpower availabil- pany said, adding, it would begin ity and the supply-chain position work in a staggered manner at its closely to take a decision on when Oragadam unit, near Chennai, with to start production,” the spokesper- minimal staff in a single shift. son added. Operations at the other two manu- The Greater Noida facility has yet facturing facilities will start in a to get the clearance.

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