The decision to the send the team coincides with the formal election of Suzuki nominee Y Saito as new Maruti chairman for five years at a board meeting on Tuesday which was followed by an extraordinary general meeting at which his appointment was approved. Saito succeeds government nominee and petroleum secretary Probir Sengupta.

Maruti Udyog is also setting up purchase and marketing committees comprising full-time directors and new chairman Saito. Top Maruti sources said Suzuki Motors has cleared the team's visit after the amicable settlement of the dispute between the two sides and the government's clearance to payment of royalty for the Gypsy, Maruti-800 and Omni models. Earlier, Maruti managing directorRSSLN Bhaskarudu had communicated to Suzuki the findings of the report submitted by the company's product committee regarding new models.

The board meeting and EGM also approved shortening of the tenure of Bhaskarudu as managing director till December 31, 1999. The board approved the appointment of executive director Jagdish Khattar as the joint manging director and his elevation as managing director from January 1, 2000.

Addressing a press conference after the board meeting, Bhaskarudu said that all decisions approved by the board have also been cleared at the EGM held after the meeting.

"The dispute between the Indian government and Suzuki has been resolved and now the only objective before us is the growth of the company and maintaining leadership", Bhaskarudu said.

The board also approved the appointment of government-nominee Pradeep Kumar, joint secretary, department of heavy industry and Suzuki-nominee Kinji Saito as part-time directors. The Maruti board is likely to meet again on June 22."Thechairman and Suzuki nominees are committed to technology transfer and introducing new models as and when required," said Bhaskarudu. He, however, refused to give any specific time-frame or extent of technology transfer and models.

The newly-appointed chairman Saito said: "Suzuki considers Maruti as an Indian company and, in the past, has given it all support. In the future too, we will do so". Saito also said that there would be a continuous flow of technology and new models will come in.

Calling his appointment a "great honour", he added the market is becoming more and more competitive and Maruti will have to ensure quality and technology to stay ahead of the competition.

"Maruti has a very experienced board, staff and workforce", he said, adding "I will like to assure all board members that I am available for advice and consultation and I look forward to support".

Asked about the company's immediate plans, Bhaskarudu said that the objective will be to maintain leadership. "The immediate plans are tointroduce new models in all segments", he said, refusing to comment on when the new models would be introduced as "it will have an effect on the existing models".

Replying to a query on the flow of gear-box technology to the venture, Bhaskarudu said the government is studying the report submitted by a committee.

"Technology transfer has nothing to do with my tenure", Bhaskarudu said emphatically. He did not give details of whether the new models will be introduced during his tenure. About the company's expansion plans, he said that they will be met through internal accruals.

Saito said Suzuki will withdraw the arbitration case soon. Asked what Suzuki would do in case it fell out with the government again, Saito said: "We have learnt a lot from the past. We will now take all steps with mutual consultations".

Besides Bhaskarudu, A V Singh, A R Halsyam and Pradeep Kumar represented the government, while Suzuki was represented by K Senga, T Kobayashi and K Saito.