Maruti Suzuki has hit a milestone in its logistics game, over 5 lakh vehicles were transported using the Indian Railways in just the fiscal year 2024-25. That’s the highest number ever for the company through railway transport.
From A Modest Start To A Giant Leap
Let’s rewind a bit. Back in 2014-15, Maruti was only sending around 65,700 vehicles by train. But look at where they are now, crossing the 5-lakh mark in a single year! Over the last decade, the company has shipped a whopping 24 lakh vehicles using the railway network.
Why Trains?
There’s a good reason Maruti Suzuki is doubling down on railway transport. Compared to roads, trains offer a lot of benefits, less congestion, fewer accidents, and much better energy efficiency. It’s also more predictable and less prone to the kind of delays, unlike on highways. Currently, the company uses railways to deliver cars to over 20 hubs across India, and from there, the cars reach more than 600 cities.
What’s Next?
The goal is to move 35% of its total vehicle dispatches by rail by the time we hit FY2030-31.
Setting An Example For The Industry ?
While Maruti’s logistics strategy is a step in the right direction, it’s not a silver bullet for the industry’s environmental challenges. Rail transport is cleaner than road, but the overall impact depends on India’s energy mix and the ability to address bottlenecks in infrastructure. For now, Maruti’s move is a practical adjustment rather than a sweeping shift—and how much it truly changes the industry remains to be seen.
