Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) aims 4 lakh exports

Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL), county's largest car producer, is planning to export close to 3.5 to 4 lakh cars from its Gurgaon plant by 07-08.

Exports will be under the Nissan brand as well as the Suzuki brand catering to the Japanese parent's markets in the European and non-European countries, Maruti Udyog managing director Jagdish Khattar said.

Maruti will also meet Suzuki's diesel engine need in countries like Hungary, Indonesia and China from the domestic engine capacity that is being set up, Khattar said.

MUL, meanwhile, as no plans to cut prices of its people's car, Maruti 800 and position it as a competitor to the Tata's much talked about small-car which also goes by the name of the "Rs 1-lakh car" slated to hit the road next year.

For Khattar isn't bothered about the treat to its ever popular car that sales for Rs 1.9 lakh from something that may retail at around Rs 1 lakh. "There are no plans to reduce Maruti 800's prices. Given a chance we will raise its prices considering the impact on its demand," Khattar said.

Replying to queries on how Maruti is gearing up to the treat, Khattar said, “We at Maruti are concerned more with the ownership costs of the cars rather than the purchase prices.”