Maruti Alto, WagonR overtake Maruti 800

NEW DELHI: Alto, WagonR, Zen and Swift came out be the hot selling cars from the Maruti Udyog stable, whereas the old favourite Maruti 800 was left behind in the race showing clearly the rising aspirations and purchasing power of the middle class.

Car market leader Maruti Udyog Ltd on Monday  announced registering a 12.9 per cent increase in its sales with 43,127 vehicles sold in April 2006 , compared to 38,190 vehicles in the same period last  year.

Maruti's domestic sales showed a 12.4 per cent rise with 41,574 vehicles sold in the month as opposed to 36,972 vehicles in the corresponding period last year.

Sales of Alto, WagonR, Zen and Swift rose by an impressive 26.4 per cent whereas sales of old favourite Maruti 800 fell by 16.6 per cent this April, compared to the same period last year.

Maruti Udyog Ltd's exports stood at 1,553 units in the month, up by 27.5 per cent as compared to 1,218 units last year in the same period.  

Sales of other models like Omni, Versa, Baleno and Esteem grew by 4.4 per cent during the month compared to sales in April 2005.