Maruti makes changes in Alto: sales of M800 fall

04 August 2005

New Delhi: Maruti Udyog has made some changes in the exteriors and interiors of its small car Alto without altering the car's price.

The company said it has incorporated new features like new headlamps, tail lamps and front grille in the Alto to increase its attraction to entry-level customers. The improved interiors include a vibrant new fabric, to give the interiors a younger, brighter appeal.

The three variants of the Alto cost Rs2,42,000, Rs2,78,000 and Rs2,98,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).

According to the company, the sales of Alto grew by 108 per cent during 2004-05 while MUL's entry level M800's sales continued to fall. In July sales of M800 fell 34 per cent to 6,294 units (9,554 units) and in the April-July period, sales of the model declined 38 per cent to 25,707 units despite a price cut and a push through innovative loan schemes.

Analysts say the M800 sales are falling as the Alto is increasingly taking its place.

The company announced a 3 per cent rise in overall sales last month at 44,753 units against 43,419 units in the same month last year. Sales of the company's compact car models (Zen, WagonR, Alto and the newly launched Swift) grew 12 per cent last month to 25,477 units (22,833 units last year).