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Maruti targets to export 1 lakh A-Star cars this fiscal

August 20, 2009 15:01 IST

Maruti  A-starMaruti Suzuki India said on Thursday it is targeting to export 100,000 units of its small car A-Star. The company is aiming a total of 1,20,000 units to sell in the overseas market this financial year.

"Out of the total exports, A-Star alone will comprise one lakh units while the rest would be other models," Maruti Suzuki India executive officer (marketing) Mayank Pareek told reporters in New Delhi.

The auto maker also expects double-digit growth in April-October period this fiscal. "So far, our sales have been good and we will attain double-digit growth till October in this fiscal," he added.

In July, the sales in the top cities have turned around despite the fear of weak monsoon, he said, adding that 44 per cent of its total sales has come from major cities.

"As of now, there is no impact of a weak monsoon on sales as we are selling not only to farmers but to other people also in the rural areas. But in the long term, it will definitely have an impact," Pareek said.

The company currently has an inventory level of three weeks and is producing more to meet the upcoming festive demands. On the company's diesel-engine plans, Pareek said it will expand the production capacity to 300,000 units per annum by 2010-11 from the existing 2,40,000 units.

Maruti Suzuki India will launch its small car Zen Estilo with 1L KB-series engine next week. It is also working on upgrading all its models to meet the Bharat Stage IV emission norms.

"We are also working big time on launching CNG variants as after the discovery of gas in KG basin and other locations the availability of CNG will be easy and shall be popular," Pareek said.

He also said the company is planning to export the new Zen Estilo to Indonesia.

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