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Old 24th May 2022, 11:03   #1
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Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

Maruti Suzuki will be investing Rs. 1,99,90,742 in AI software developer Sociograph Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (SSPL) and acquire an equity stake of 12.09%.

Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions-screenshot-20220524-110147.jpg

According to Maruti, the investment would help improve its sales experience on the web, virtual reality and augmented reality.

SSPL specializes in visual AI platforms that can be used to improve sales experience and improve efficiency.

Source: ET Auto

Link to Team-BHP News

Last edited by TusharK : 24th May 2022 at 11:05.
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Old 24th May 2022, 13:06   #2
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

Invest in EV Tech Maruti

Doesn't case studies of NOKIA/KODAK/BLACKBERRY send shivers down your spine??
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Old 24th May 2022, 13:17   #3
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

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Doesn't case studies of NOKIA/KODAK/BLACKBERRY send shivers down your spine??
It does, which is why they have changed management and have gone to a bigger player for assistance. A bit like Nokia seeking Samsung's help!
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Old 24th May 2022, 20:57   #4
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

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Originally Posted by TusharK View Post
...
According to Maruti, the investment would help improve its sales experience on the web, virtual reality and augmented reality.
Oh wow....so Maruti's management took a deep look at the market, spoke to their customers, introspected dispassionately and determined that..........sales experience, especially online sales experience is their problem....

All hail Maruti !!
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Old 25th May 2022, 11:52   #5
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

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Originally Posted by payeng View Post
Invest in EV Tech Maruti
As shortbread said, they now have big-daddy Toyota's support and have already been testing EVs too. Don't sweat, their EVs will be coming.

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Originally Posted by Contrapunto View Post
Oh wow....so Maruti's management took a deep look at the market, spoke to their customers, introspected dispassionately and determined that..........sales experience, especially online sales experience is their problem....
Not a "problem", but an "opportunity". We have to understand that companies like Maruti consider 100 new ways of doing things every month. This is just one of those. It doesn't mean they are backing off in other areas, which are anyways handled by different departments. It doesn't have to be "either" "or". Maruti is so huge that it can do many things simultaneously.

2-crores is a pocket-change investment for Maruti. Like 100 bucks is to you & me.
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Old 25th May 2022, 13:49   #6
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

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It does, which is why they have changed management and have gone to a bigger player for assistance. A bit like Nokia seeking Samsung's help!

Better be ATMANIRBHAR.

By the Way Big Brother Toyota is still thinking about "Hybrids" for their Solid State Battery Tech Not Pure EVs.
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Old 25th May 2022, 14:06   #7
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

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Better be ATMANIRBHAR.

By the Way Big Brother Toyota is still thinking about "Hybrids" for their Solid State Battery Tech Not Pure EVs.
This doesn't happen overnight. Maruti spends a fraction of what domestic biggies like Mahindra and Tata motors spend on R&D. It's almost miniscule considering the size of their operation. Let alone next gen technologies, they struggled to get their 1.5 diesel meet BS6 requirements and finally gave up!

In comparison TMETC (Tata's European technical center) has been working on EVs since 2006!

Maruti needs Toyota's assistance on bigger platforms, Hybrids, EVs etc..... this strategy is definitely beneficial for the company.
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Old 25th May 2022, 15:56   #8
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

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Originally Posted by shortbread View Post
This doesn't happen overnight. Maruti spends a fraction of what domestic biggies like Mahindra and Tata motors spend on R&D. It's almost miniscule considering the size of their operation. Let alone next gen technologies, they struggled to get their 1.5 diesel meet BS6 requirements and finally gave up!
Maruti has CASH RESERVES of 50,000 Cr. and Debt/Borrowings that is less than 1% of its reserves.

"Domestic Biggies" Tata and Mahindra both has Debt/Borrowings MORE than its Cash Reserves. To top it off, Tata Hasn't been able to post any Profit in the Last 4 Financial Years.

Maybe Tata should learn from Maruti and stop funding its R&D and Give Up.

Last edited by payeng : 25th May 2022 at 16:08.
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Old 25th May 2022, 16:20   #9
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

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"Domestic Biggies" Tata and Mahindra both has Debt/Borrowings MORE than its Cash Reserves. To top it off, Tata Hasn't been able to post any Profit in the Last 4 Financial Years.

Maybe Tata should learn from Maruti and stop funding its R&D and Give Up.
Nope, what has made TML increase it's market share and literally triple it's sales in the recent past and have a head start in the EV race has been it's R&D focus. What was absent historically was a line up of non descript models that buyers weren't enthusiastic about, the fault is not with the R&D department. Now that it has mend it's way, TML will continue to see growth in sales and still maintain its independence. No argument on the losses especially carrying JLR's current issues, but the net loss of Rs 1,032.84 crore in Q4 FY22 is against a net loss of Rs 7,605.40 crore in Q4 FY21.

For Mahindra it's been sheer bad lack and lack of production planning. Rest assured their pricing strength (remember a majority of their sales isnt made up of cheap hatchbacks!), bookings backlog and the brand prowess of the likes of the Bolero, Thar, Scorpio etc is something Maruti can only dream about.

Revisiting this thread in a years time will be interesting.
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Old 25th May 2022, 16:26   #10
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

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Nope, what has made TML increase it's market share and literally triple it's sales in the recent past and have a head start in the EV race has been it's R&D focus. What was absent historically was a line up of non descript models that buyers weren't enthusiastic about, the fault is not with the R&D department. Now that it has mend it's way, TML will continue to see growth in sales and still maintain its independence. No argument on the losses especially carrying JLR's current issues, but the net loss of Rs 1,032.84 crore in Q4 FY22 is against a net loss of Rs 7,605.40 crore in Q4 FY21.

For Mahindra it's been sheer bad lack and lack of production planning. Rest assured their pricing strength (remember a majority of their sales isnt made up of cheap hatchbacks!), bookings backlog and the brand prowess of the likes of the Bolero, Thar, Scorpio etc is something Maruti can only dream about.
What are you saying?

With Cash reserves of thousands of crores with hardly any borrowings, what do you think Maruti would dream of?
Especially when it has a Big Brother to fall back on?

Last edited by payeng : 25th May 2022 at 16:29.
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Old 25th May 2022, 16:39   #11
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

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Not a "problem", but an "opportunity". We have to understand that companies like Maruti consider 100 new ways of doing things every month. This is just one of those. It doesn't mean they are backing off in other areas, which are anyways handled by different departments. It doesn't have to be "either" "or". Maruti is so huge that it can do many things simultaneously.
Agreed. I reacted because, as you know, small acquisitions and "acqui -hires" of this scale go on all time. If you are getting a small business, it does not even hit the materialty threshold for Maruti probably in this case. Companies make some "press presence" for it only when they think they are making a statement to the market.

I found it interesting that this is where Maruti thinks they need to make a statement.
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Old 25th May 2022, 16:55   #12
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

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Originally Posted by payeng View Post
What are you saying?

With Cash reserves of thousands of crores with hardly any borrowings, what do you think Maruti would dream of?
Especially when it has a Big Brother to fall back on?
Literally Everything apart from small manual petrols is a dream for Maruti currently! More so pricing power in the 15lac+ bracket. Which is why they ran to VW first for refuge and when that failed it's now turned to Toyota.

If dreams could simply be turned to reality with cash reserves, Maruti would love to have Tesla's valuation!
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Old 25th May 2022, 17:16   #13
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

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Originally Posted by TusharK View Post
Maruti Suzuki will be investing Rs. 1,99,90,742 in AI software developer Sociograph
Kudos to whoever came up with that extremely specific amount. Maruti sure runs a tight ship.

That name is heavy though. Searched what it means and not exact but a similar word was found: "Sociography", which means
Quote:
A branch of sociology that concentrates on the descriptive analysis of social groups
Hmm okay. Its way too close to sociopath. Hope the AI figures out ways to extract remaining last bits of mileage out of K15 engines.
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Old 25th May 2022, 22:14   #14
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Re: Maruti Suzuki to invest in AI software firm Sociograph Solutions

Hard to figure out MSILs logic here. How can acquiring piece of a startup help with improving their sales experience. If they had acquired the entire company and deployed the army of talented professionals/assets that came with it for in-house transformation, I could still understand what they are trying to do. But this 12% deal seems to be a mystery. Can anyone throw light?
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