Suzuki opens workshop at top of the world

The world's highest altitude manufacturer car workshop has been opened in India's Himachal Pradesh Region.

The workshop is part of the Maruti Suzuki network and has been set up at Kaza in North East India, 3,740m (12,200 feet) above sea level.  The workshop will be able to service the estimated 700 Suzuki vehicles in the local area, saving their owners a round trip of 150 miles previously needed to find a repair shop - a journey that is impossible for around four months during the winter when the Kaza area is cut off from the rest of the country

There are a number of records linked to the new workshop.  It is situated next to the world's highest petrol station, operated by Indian Oil.  Maruti Suzuki itself now operates almost 3,000 dealerships in more than 1,400 cities across India, making it the largest automotive dealer network in India, with some dealerships handling 250 vehicles daily in 50-bay workshops.

The opening of the Kaza workshop is not only aimed at supporting local Suzuki drivers, but also helping to attract tourists who will be reassured to know there is local assistance should their vehicles break down.

The growth in Suzuki sales is significant in India, with Maruti taking 50% of India's total passenger car sales.  In 2010 Maruti sold 1.1m vehicles and is aiming to increase this to 1.7m by 2013.

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