Maruti Suzuki India Limited is targeting sales of 4,00,000 diesel powered cars in the fiscal 2012-13 in order to regain its market share lost in the 2011-12 due to production problems and sluggish sales in the Indian auto industry.
According to Mr. Tarun Garg Chief GM Maruti Suzuki, the company expects the demand for diesel cars to increase and is planning to make the most of it by pushing its diesel car models. He added that the company sold 2,43,000 diesel cars in the domestic market in 2011-12, about 24 percent of its total sales.
Industry experts are of the opinion that the demand for diesel cars is likely to grow due to the continuing subsidy on the diesel fuel by the government. As a result, various automakers in India are considering expansion of their diesel car portfolio and setting up of diesel engine plants.