Mumbai: Maruti Suzuki MD & CEO Hisashi Takeuchi is Autocar Professional’s ‘Man of the Year’ for 2023.

The Autocar Professional Man of the Year has been a person whose singular influence has shaped automotive headlines for the year, with a larger vision that has transformative potential. Takeuchi typifies that person, said Autocar Professional editor Ketan Thakkar.

Takeuchi, who took over the reins in April 2022, has accelerated decision-making at the carmaker and put Maruti Suzuki back in the reckoning in the lucrative and popular SUV segment. On the back of new SUV launches such as the Grand Vitara, Fronx and Jimny, the company has become the segment leader and appears on course to comfortably hold onto that position for the rest of FY 2024.

Takeuchi is also the prime architect of the company’s Vision 3.0 program. In Autocar Professional’s cover story, which also features an exclusive interview with Maruti Suzuki’s top boss, Thakkar writes: “Vision 3.0 is by far the most audacious mid-term goal set by the company. The plan envisages Maruti Suzuki doubling production capacity and revenues in eight years; tripling exports from India and expanding its product portfolio to 28 models from 17 at present.” Vision 3.0 could well be Takeuchi’s enduring legacy, said Thakkar.