Maruti Suzuki's March sales up 3.3 percent

New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) Passenger car market leader Maruti Suzuki Monday reported a rise of 3.3 percent in March sales including exports at 125,952 units from 121,952 units in the like period of 2011.

Domestic sales grew by 2.1 percent at 112,724 units in the period under review from 110,424 units in the corresponding period of the last fiscal.

Exports increased by 14.7 percent at 13,228 units from 11,528 units sold in March 2011.

Segment-wise sales were led by the company's compact cars including Swift, Estilo and Ritz which grew by 23.6 percent at 27,913 units from 22,576 units sold in the corresponding period of last year.

Sales of super compact car DZire rose by 60.1 percent at 16,451 units from 10,278 units in March 2011.

However, the company's 'Mini' compact segment including M800, A-Star, Alto and WagonR sales declined by 10.2 percent at 52,826 units as against 58,799 units.

The total passenger car sales in the period under review rose by 3.5 percent at 98,758 units from 95,388 units sold in March 2011.

The company came out with healthy sales numbers for its utility vehicle segment which includes brands like Gypsy, Grand Vitara and Ertiga in March which grew by 146.8 percent at 1,530 units from 620 units in the corresponding period of last year.

Vans sales including Omni and Eeco, however declined by 13.7 percent at 12,436 units from 14,416 units sold in the like period of last year.

For fiscal 2011-12, the company's total sales including exports fell by 10.8 percent at 1,133,695 units from 1,271,005 units in the last fiscal due to labour unrest.

This hit production and led to sluggish petrol car market condition and slower demand due to high cost of credit in the last fiscal.

Domestic sales in 2011-12 declined at 1,006,316 units down 11.2 percent from 1,132,739 units sold in 2010-11.

Exports in the last fiscal went down by 7.9 percent at 127,379 units from 138,266 units shipped out in 2010-11.

The total passenger car sales in 2011-12 fell by 11.5 percent at 855,730 units from 966,447 units sold in 2010-11.

The company's scrip at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was down 0.30 percent at Rs.1,345 around 12.30 p.m.