Date:26/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/26/stories/2008022655651600.htm

Business

Maruti’s exports set to cross 5 lakh units

K. T. Jagannathan

CHENNAI: With Maruti Suzuki India lining up shipments of over 4,000 units this month, it is set to breach the half-a-million mark in cumulative exports. The company has cumulatively exported over 4.97 lakh units till last month.

Europe has been a popular destination for Maruti vehicles accounting for 56 per cent of the company’s cumulative exports.

The Netherlands (around 67,700 units), Italy (over 41,000 units) and the U.K. (over 34,000) have been the biggest European buyers. Germany and Hungary, too, are among the countries that have imported over 20,000 Maruti Suzuki cars.

Non-European markets

Among the non-European markets, Algeria is the biggest buyer with over 42,000 units, followed by Chile, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Just as in the Indian market, Maruti 800, with 1.78 lakh units, has been the most popular Maruti car overseas. Alto follows closely with 1.52 lakh units. Zen was well received, selling over 1.30 lakh units cumulatively.

Sources said Maruti Suzuki was hoping to export 50,000 units in 2007-08, growing 27 per cent over last year.

The focus lately had been on developing Afro-Asian and Latin American markets, they pointed out.

Maruti Suzuki’s role in global Suzuki had been on the rise, they said.

“Maruti Suzuki will manufacture Suzuki’s fifth world strategic model, A-Star, for export. The production model will be based on the Concept A-Star, unveiled at the recent Auto Expo in Delhi,” the sources said.