Maruti launches new Alto 800

Maruti Suzuki on Tuesday launched new Alto 800, banking on the fresh version of its best selling small car to boost sales, which are projected to grow at a lower pace of 3-5% in the current fiscal.

The country's largest car-maker introduced the new Alto in both petrol and CNG options, offered at introductory prices ranging between Rs2.44 lakh and Rs3.56 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

"We are expecting to grow 3-5% this fiscal. High petrol prices are impacting our sales badly as most of our best selling models are in this mode," Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Managing Director and CEO Shinzo Nakanishi told reporters in Delhi.

Although diesel prices have been increased now, it will take some time to bring back customers to petrol cars again, he added.

The company had earlier projected a growth of 10% during 2012-13.

In 2011-12, MSI's total sales declined by 10.80% to 11,33,695 units from 12,71,005 units in 2010-11. Domestic sales decreased by 11.16% to 10,06,316 from 11,32,739 units in the previous fiscal.

"During the first six months, our total sales remained flat. In the second half of this fiscal, we are expecting market to improve," Nakanishi said.

During April-September period, MSI witnessed 1.42% fall in its sales at 5,26,272 units from 5,33,833 units in the year-ago period.

Nakanishi said the company's exports will also fall during this fiscal.

"All over the world, the situation is very tough. We will not reach our last fiscal's sales numbers in export markets," he said.