Maruti launches new car, seeks to increase exports

ew Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Auto major Maruti Suzuki Tuesday launched a new model targeted at the mid-priced segment, and said it hoped to export it to over 150 countries.

Priced in the Rs.347,000-Rs.412,000 range, the car - called A-star - will be made in over 200 variants and is touted to give a mileage of 19.59 km per litre of petrol. A-star is Maruti Suzuki's eighth vehicle launched in a little over three years.

'A-star will be exported mainly to European markets and we expect it to account for a major part of our total exports,' company chairman R.C. Bhargava said at the vehicle's launch.

The company exported around 50,000 cars last year and expects to export more this year.

Incidentally, A-star has been designed keeping the European market in mind, and will be rolled out of the company's facility at Manesar near Delhi

India Cranks Out Small Cars for Export

MUMBAI -- India is becoming a small-car manufacturing hub for some of the world's biggest auto makers.
Annual passenger-car exports from India have jumped five-fold in the past five years. Industry analysts predict exports over the next three years will surge nearly 300% to more than half-a-million vehicles a year.
India's homegrown auto innovation -- Tata Motor Ltd.'s $2,500 Nano minicar -- has attracted global attention, but the export wave consists mainly of small cars built in local plants by Japanese and South Korean car makers, including Suzuki Motor Corp., Hyundai Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co.

India's small e-car to hit the road soon

RAJKOT: Makers of electric scooters and bikes under the Oreva brand, Ajanta group of India is all set to roll out its first e-car. First it was India's Tata motors putting on anvil the world's cheapest car called 'Nano' which has hogged headlines for all the reasons, including 100,000 Rupees price tag and the agitation forcing it out of Singur of West Bengal. Now, it is Oreva, the 'green' car becoming talk of Rajkot, The Tata Motors decision to put up 'Nano' car plant in Sanand village of the state coincides with Oreva manufacturing its cars from Morbi, home to its e-bikes. Both the cars have their plants in Gujarat. Ajanta will be rolling out the car from the same unit as had produced e bikes. Without divulging details about the price of the car, Rakesh Nathwani, National Marketing Head of Oreva Group said that the car would be able to run up to 200-250 kilometers in one time charge. "We don't have any competition with 'Nano'. This is our future product as we have seen electric bikes as out future products. We see electric cars also as future products for India and we are working on it. The research and development is going on. This car will go on battery and it will be a completely Indian made battery operated car," said Nathwani. But according to earlier news reports and industry sources, the company aims to price it at Rs 85,000, lesser than the 'Nano' car. Residents who came to take a preview said that they were keenly waiting for its launch. "I will definitely be the first customer," said Pooja, a resident. With oil prices having hit the rooftop this year and the countries focusing on energy security, there is greater pressure on carmakers to develop engines powered by alternate fuels.