Maruti Suzuki rolls out WFH, bans non-critical foreign travel in line with PM Modi’s austerity call

India’s largest carmaker (MSIL) on Tuesday announced a set of austerity and efficiency measures for its employees and business partners, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to conserve fuel and reduce foreign exchange expenditure amid the ongoing West Asia war.

The measures, shared by the company on social media platform X under the header “Strengthening austerity and efficiency amidst West Asia crisis”, cover four areas: work from home, travel optimisation, sustainable commute practices, and .

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On the work front, MSIL said WFH has been implemented for employees wherever operationally feasible to reduce commute-related , in line with the company’s existing remote working policy.

On travel, foreign trips are to be avoided unless critical for business requirements, domestic travel is to be minimised, and have been designated as the preferred mode for all engagements. Employees have also been encouraged to carpool and use public transport wherever practical, while offices and homes are being asked to optimise the use of air conditioning, fans, and lights.

The company said it has placed immense importance in PM Modi’s clarion call for austerity as well as the need to mitigate the long-term impact of the West Asia war, adding that whether during a crisis or under normal business conditions, management should conduct operations in the most productive and efficient manner, minimising the use of petroleum products and foreign currency expenditure.

The move comes weeks after PM Modi, at an event in Vadodara on May 10, urged people to resume Covid-era practices such as work from home, virtual meetings, and video conferencing, saying these were “the need of the hour” amid the energy crunch triggered by the . The government subsequently clarified that the PM’s remarks were only an appeal, and that no mandatory WFH directive or advisory for the IT industry was under consideration.

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Maruti Suzuki said these measures are being widely communicated to both internal employees and business partners. The company tagged the Prime Minister’s Office, the ministries of road transport, heavy industries, commerce, and petroleum, among others, in the post.

The announcement adds to a string of signals from MSIL about the financial strain from the conflict. Earlier this month, the company said it would hike vehicle prices across its portfolio by up to Rs 30,000 from June 2026, citing inflationary pressures and an adverse cost environment.