Nikkei (Tokyo) - Suzuki Motor Corp. (7269) said Monday that it has no specific project right now going on with tie-up partner Volkswagen AG.
The German auto giant has signaled its intention to effectively turn Suzuki into an affiliate, but the Japanese carmaker insisted that an equal partnership was part of the deal when the two formed the alliance in 2009.
At a news conference in Hamamatsu, where the company's headquarters are located, Suzuki revealed that it is urging Volkswagen to return to that initial understanding.
"We believe that, for now, it would be better to use our own technologies to survive in markets where competition is intensifying, such as India," said Executive Vice President Yasuhito Harayama, who is in charge of discussions with Volkswagen.
Meanwhile, to reduce tsunami risks, Suzuki has decided to relocate a seaside motorcycle technology center to higher ground, added Toshihiro Suzuki, another executive vice president.
The firm has two plants within 20km of the Hamaoka nuclear power station.
"We believe the Shizuoka prefectural governor will make the appropriate decision" regarding the fate of the Hamaoka facility, according to Suzuki.
