The first step is to get production started on a sustainable basis: R.C. Bhargava

The last few weeks have been unprecedented and unpredictable, as the country went into a sudden and complete lockdown to flatten the COVID-19 curve and all economic activities came to a halt from March 25, 2020. Naturally, production of vehicles was also stopped and the facilities of India's largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India, fell silent. Now, as the lockdown has been eased and factories are again allowed to resume production, the big question is how to revive demand in a market where incomes are affected and the production-supply-sales ecosystem jammed. R C Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki, gives us an insight into how things stand during these challenging times.  Excerpts from the interview… TOS: COVID-19 presented an unprecedented challenge to businesses in India and Maruti has come forward to make healthcare equipment. How did this come about? What healthcare equipment is being manufactured, where, and what are the associated volumes? RCB: MSIL is assisting AgVa Healthcare, a start-up company, to scale up production rapidly. While AgVa remains responsible for the technology, design and performance, MSIL (Maruti Suzuki India Ltd) is helping in all other areas including component development, manpower, space, finances, and so on. A production rate of 400 ventilators a day has been reached. A