Maruti hikes Alto export target to 24,000 units

Chennai: Maruti Udyog, Indias largest car manufacturer, has increased its export target for the Alto to 24,000 units for this fiscal.

Sold as Alto 1.1 in India, the Maruti Suzuki Alto was launched in Europe at the Geneva Motor Show held in March 2002. A company spokesman says the Alto is receiving good reviews in Western Europe since then. Due to its fuel economy, the Alto entitles its customers to a refund of Euro 1000 from the Netherlands government.

Initially the target for Alto exports was fixed at 14,000 units. After its launch in Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Greece, Australia, Ireland and the UK, the Indian company decided to increase the target by another 10,000 units. The company will be adding new European markets to its portfolio.

On the whole, Maruti hopes to increase its car exports to 31,000 units this fiscal, compared to 12,232 vehicles it shipped out last year. Cumulatively, the company has exported 2.5 lakh cars 70 per cent of that to Europe. Out of this export, the Maruti Zen accounts for 1 lakh units. The company is the largest Indian car exporter both in terms of value and volume.