Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. will stay No. 1 in India's small-car market for at least another decade because no other automaker has a similar infrastructure, maintenance network or the technical flare to produce vehicles that meet local demand, says R.C. Bhargava, chairman of the joint Japan-India venture.

In an interview, Bhargava said people in India like Maruti Suzuki cars because they are small, fuel-efficient, easy to drive and park, and competitively priced.

Citing reasons behind the automaker's leading position, Bhargava said the company has the advantages of being first to the market, a huge sales volume, a large service network and easy access to spare parts.

Bhargava said Maruti Suzuki plans to set up its own research and design facility in India, which he said would help the company increase sales.

As for the recent labor strike at the Maruti Suzuki plant in Manesar in the state of Haryana, Bhargava said the turmoil has been resolved and management has learned its lesson.

"Politics within the trade unions has become more competitive and labor unions have turned into an effective vote bank. Political parties are now taking more and more interest in the labor unions, which we failed to understand," Bhargava said.