Maruti Suzuki to limit exports

Maruti Suzuki exported 1.47 lakh units in 2008-09,the highest ever export figures,with the compact car A-star alone clocking over 1.27 lakh units.

8216;A-star8217; was exported to European countries,including the UK,France,Germany,Italy and the Netherlands. Major non-European export markets for the car include Algeria,Chile,Indonesia and neighbouring countries.

South Africa,Hong Kong,Australia and Norway were new markets where the company8217;s cars were exported during the year.

To address increasing demand for its products,Maruti Suzuki has commenced work to increase capacity at the Manesar plant. 8220;We have started work at Manesar. But that will take time to reach full capacity,which would be by 20128221; he said.

In March 2010,the company had announced a Rs 1,700 crore investment for expanding production by 2.5 lakh units at its Manesar plant.

Production capacity after the expansion will reach 12.50 lakh units by 2012.

Bhargava replied in the affirmative when asked whether the company was facing delay in deliveries. 8220;Almost all our models are in the waiting list 8230; I would say the average waiting list is three months for the diesel variant of Swift Dezire.8221;

8220;We will keep increasing production in whichever way we can primarily to meet customer demand8230;our reasonable target to meet the demand is 20128221;,he said.

Maruti Suzuki sold 10.18 lakh vehicles in 2008-09 fiscal,the first time in Indian automotive history that a car company has sold over a million units in a financial year. This included sales of 8.70 lakh units in the domestic market,the highest ever by the company in a fiscal.

Asked whether introduction of new models by foreign companies would be a challenge,Bhargava said every carmaker has to introduce new models to address customer needs. 8220;He carmaker should make sure the customer gets something new8221;.

On the growth of the automobile industry,he opined it might grow by 15 per cent. 8220;Even SIAM Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers also said the industry would grow by 12-14 per cent and that is reasonable8230;but we have to look at base effect also8221;,he said.

Bhargava felt one of the biggest challenges facing the industry is lack of infrastructure. 8220;I think lack of infrastructure is one big problem 8230; especially when you look at global developments in auto-industry8221;.

Asked whether the company would phase out Maruti 800,the first small car introduced in 1982,he said,8221;sometimes,every model has to be stopped 8230; Maruti 800 will also end at one stage.. I dont know when it will happen.. right now,it is running8230;8221;,he said.

Maruti Suzuki reported a 17.28 per cent jump in sales to 88,091 units in June against 75,109 units in the same month last year.