NEW DELHI, APRIL 9: Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL) is planning to infuse Rs 600 crore fresh capital over the next two to three months to set up production lines for its next-in-line small car `Alto' and for expanding and modernising existing capacities.``The fresh Rs 600 crore investment would be made for setting up new production lines for the Alto and also for expanding and modernising the existing capacities.''The loans have already been tied up, the sources added. Alto is currently being sold in a three-door and five-door version by Suzuki Motor Corporation, 50 per cent owner of Maruti Udyog Limited. The car is available with 5-speed manual and 3-speed automatic transmission versions. In addition, Maruti is also exporting the three-door version of Alto from India to the European markets.It may be recalled that MUL managing director Jagdish Khattar had earlier announced that the company was working towards introducing a Station Wagon version of its luxury segment offering Baleno in the current calendar year. However, he had declined to state an exact time-frame for the same.``We would be initiating a feasibility study for the Station Wagon version. We have received tremendous response for the car at the Auto Expo and are keen on introducing it in the market. But we have to ensure that it does not cannibalise the existing Baleno.The positioning in terms of price and otherwise has to be checked.'' The Baleno presently sports a price tag of Rs 7.12 lakh.Khattar had further stated that the company would also consider introducing a diesel option on the Baleno. ``However, first we have to look at the diesel options for the existing models - Gypsy and Esteem.''Maruti had displayed both the diesel baleno and station-wagonbaleno at the auto expo.Maruti fresh investments two last new DelhiMeanwhile, maruti has discontinued production of euro-0 variantsof all its passenger cars and also effected a Rs. 3,000-6,000 hike in prices of select models, besides introducing new multi-point fuel injection (mpfi) engines on maruti 800 standard and zen.With the introduction of new engines, the new cars have beenpriced at a difference of Rs. 10,000-16,000 over their euro-I variants.Maruti has, beginning april 1, 2000, introduced euro-ii compliantmpfi engines on maruti 800 standard, zen lx, vx, ax and classic.The new M 800 Standard mpfi euro-ii is priced at Rs. 220,000, adifference of Rs. 10,000 over its euro-I counterpart, whose price has been hiked from Rs. 207,000 to Rs. 210,000.The euro-ii zen lx is priced at Rs. 322,000, a difference of Rs.16,000 from its euro-I's prices tag of Rs. 306,000. The E-2 version of zen vx is priced at Rs. 367,000 as against E-I zen vx's price tag of Rs. 352,000. However, the company has not altered the price tag of zen classic.The company has also hiked the prices of its omni van from Rs.213,000 to Rs. 218,000, that of M800 Ex version from Rs. 234,000 to Rs. 238,000 and of M800 Dx from Rs. 256,000 to Rs. 259,000.The company has stated that the price hike that has been effectedis only a fraction of the increase in input costs as a result of introduction of new mpfi engines and transmission changes.Beginning this month, M800 Ex and dx, omni (all variants), zen atand zen D, Wagon-R (all variants), esteem ax, baleno and gypsy king will be available only in mpfi euro-ii compliant versions across the country. Meanwhile, outside ncr, M800 Standard, zen lx, vx, classic and vxi and esteem lx and vx will also be available in euro-I compliant version.Now, except M800 Standard and omni, all other cars in thecompany's stables are powered by a 4-valve technology.Mul crossed last fiscal's target of selling 400,000 vehicles andclosed the year with sales of over 406,000 units, up 21.38 per cent over 1998-99. This sales volume by the market leader comprises over 21,000 units of exports.
