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Our Bureau

Bets on the new model for `complete carmaker' tag

NEW LAUNCH: Mr Jagdish Khattar, Managing Director, Maruti Udyog, at the launch of the SX4 sedan, a luxury car in the A3 segment, in the Capital on Monday. - Kamal Narang

New Delhi May 7 In a bid to expand its market share in the premium segment, Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) on Monday unveiled its SX4 sedan at an introductory price of Rs 6.18 lakh.

Maruti, which occupies the third highest share in this category, seeks to be a complete car manufacturer with this launch.

"It has been more than seven years since we launched a sedan. With this, we would be evolving from a leading carmaker to a complete carmaker,' said Mr Jagdish Khattar, Managing Director and CEO, MUL.

He said that SX4 would be the second global car after Maruti's Swift, adding that the launch of the car is slated in autumn for the US and would also be introduced in the European and Japanese markets.

Features

SX4 has a 1.6-litre petrol engine and is also equipped with M series engine technology that can comply with Euro 4 and Euro 5 norms. SX4 would also be available in two other variants, priced at Rs 6.89 lakh and Rs 7.24 lakh. It would be competing with Honda City, Hyundai Verna and Ford Fiesta.

"Maruti's experience in the A3 segment has been mixed with Esteem and Baleno. However, with SX4, we are keen to reinforce our position in this category," said Mr Khattar. As per the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, sedans that accounted for 23 per cent of Indian car sales last year, witnessed 11 per cent increase to 244,247 units in the year ended March 31, 2007.

Commenting on the company's plans to export SX4 from here, Mr Khattar said that as per its agreement with Suzuki Corporation, MUL would be exporting only compact cars from its domestic manufacturing facilities here and SX4 would be sourced from the company's Hungary plant. Maruti is targeting to export 2,00,000 units over the next 2-3 years, including 50,000 units it would manufacture for Nissan for the European market, said Mr Khattar.

More Stories on : Outlook | Cars | Maruti Udyog Ltd

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