Maruti plans to tap a host of export market

Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest car maker reported that it has plans to cover new export markets like the Middle East, South America and Australia. HS Brar Company's deputy general manager told reporters that they were exporting cars to the European countries and they would start start exploring new markets such as Africa, South America, the Middle East and Australia to boost their exports. During April and December 2009 Maruti has posted a vigorous 135 per cent growth in exports by shipping 1.05 lakh cars against 45,000 cars exported in the corresponding period last fiscal. Bulk of export constituted Maruti’s A-Star model car to European countries. By the end of the current fiscal year Maruti has targeted to export 1.30 lakh cars against 70,000 cars exported in 2008-09

In the northern region, company recorded 30 per cent growth in cars sales in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana (excluding NCR), Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh during the first nine months till December 2009 against the national growth of 22.5 per cent. On average Maruti is selling 8,000 cars per month in these markets which record a growth of 30 percent from April to December 2009. Brar also said that  though the input prices of led and aluminium had increased in the range of 35-60 per cent from March till December 2009, the company had still not decided to increase car prices.