Perfect Drive

When Kenichi Ayukawa was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd in April 2013, the company was not in the best of shape. Following two years of labour unrest at its Manesar factory, its market share had slid to less than 40 per cent. The morale within the company was low and rivals had their tails up. Not quite a sinking ship, but in 2012/13, Maruti was in a state of disarray.

Within four years, the 62 year old Ayukawa has effected a complete reversal in the company's fortunes. Maruti Suzuki is sitting pretty with a market share of 50.4 per cent (April November 2017), the highest since 2000/01. It accounts for four of the top five and seven of the top 10 best selling cars in the country. Revenues grew a staggering 36.7 per cent in 2016/17, and 20 per cent