Maruti Sept sales up 12%, hikes prices

 Domestic sales increased 15% to 46,393 units in September 2005 from 40,322 units in the same month last year. Exports were down 20.5% with 2,885 units from 3,627 units during the same month last year.

 The company clocked an impressive 34.5% sales growth in the A-2 segment like Zen, Wagon R, Alto and Swift with total sales of 29,456 units. Combined sales of Omni and Versa increased 6.9% to 6,022 units from 5,634 units in the same month last year.

 Sales growth in the mid-size category (Esteem and Baleno) increased 7.7% to 3,168 units from 2,941 units in September 2004. Sales of Gypsy and Vitara zoomed 179% to 324 units as against 116 units sold in September 2004.

The company today also announced price hikes in the range of 0.2-1%.

 According to a release issued by Maruti to the BSE today, the company has decided to pass on only a part of the impact of increase in freight costs and other input cost to customers.

 "Another price revision may be undertaken at the end of the year," the release added.