NEW DELHI(PT I): Even as the Indian automobile industry reels under recession, nothing seems wrong for the state-owned Maru Udyog Lid which was amassed nearly Rs 1.83 billion with over 73,000 bookings for its new model “Zen” to marketed overseas as “Alto.”
The more fuel efficient and environment friendly car manufactured in collaboration with Japanese auto giant Suzuki is supposed to be more fuel efficient and environment friendly and is expected to be rolled out by September this year.
Zen which can be booked at an initial nonrefundable amount of Rs 25,000 was expected to attract about 60 to 65,000 applications.
However expectations have been surpassed, say company officials and the car which will cost upwards of Rs 300 thousand has generated an enthusiastic response from the day the bookings started ‘on the first of last month The company, however, does not plan to refund any excess bookings and will bring out 4,000 vehicles this year followed by 11,000 and 20,000 vehicles in the next years, an economic limes report says. Thus it will be at least four times till the company will be a position to service the orders it has received.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 16, 1993
