Bangalore: Japanese auto major Suzuki plans to make India's biggest car maker Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL) its research and development (R&D) hub for Asia outside Japan by 2007, a top company official said today (November 29, 2003).

Speaking to reporters at the launch of Maruti's new Zen in Bangalore, Arvind Saxena, general manager (sales), MUL, said the R&D team's present strength of 30 would be doubled by 2007.

Saxena said the new Zen represented Maruti's in-house competence to do a full face-lift of a car.

He said the new look Zen was expected to boost the sales of about 5,000 units a month of the car by 10 to 15 per cent.

PTI