Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), the country’s largest passenger car maker, is anticipating a sales growth of 6 per cent in the fiscal year 2013. It must be noted that the auto maker has reported a fall of 7.9 per cent in its February 2013 sales with figures standing at 109,567 units against 118,949 vehicles delivered in corresponding period of 2012. The domestic sales of the auto maker witnessed a dip of 9 per cent at 97,955 units when compared against 107,653 units sold in February 2012. However, exports of the company reported an increase of 2.8 per cent with 11,612 units over 11,296 units shipped in same tenure of 2012.
Interestingly, although Maruti Suzuki witnessed a slowdown in its sales, the car maker is anticipating performing well in the ongoing financial year with a hope to take its sales growth to 6 per cent. It must be also noted that MSIL has increased the prices of its models by around Rs. 20,000 in order to offset the impact of increasing prices of inputs and unfavourable fluctuation in the value of INR. Industry experts believe that this move might prove out to be a barrier to the expectations of the auto maker. The current Indian portfolio of the auto maker starts from Alto 800 to Kizashi, which is brought as a Completely Built Unit (CBU).
Auto analysts believe that the auto market might witness a boost as the financial institutions have reduced the interest rates and are offering a number of impressive schemes to lure the price sensitive Indian buyers. On the other hand, ca makers are of a view that sales will witness a boost only after some favourable modifications in the Union Budget.
