Maruti Jan sales up 31%

Car major Maruti Udyog Ltd said its January sales at 49,140 units was 30.2 per cent higher than 37,738 units sold a year ago, and also the highest-ever sales during a month.

A statement issued by the company said its sales in the domestic market went up by 31.4 per cent to 44,309 units, while exports jumped 20 per cent to 4,831 units.

Domestic sales went up despite a 2.1 per cent fall in the sales of the entry-level model Maruti 800. But the numbers were pulled up by sales of the company's B segment cars comprising the Alto, WagonR and Zen which grew 86.5 per cent to 21,495 units.

Sales of the mid-size cars, Esteem and Baleno also grew 46 per cent to 1,344 units.

The company's cumulative (April 2003-January 2004) sales were up by 30.3 per cent to 3,77,159 vehicles. Domestic sales increased 27.6 per cent to 3,37,288 units, while exports climbed 58.2 per cent to 39,871 units.

Company sources have said Maruti has planned to produce in excess of 4.6 lakh vehicles during the year, which it looks like being able to achieve with another two months to go, and the government likely to announce tax sops for the automobile industry on Tuesday that may lead to cut in car prices.

The company has already announced price cuts on some of its models, a move likely to push up sales in the coming months.