Maruti has produced over 100,000 units of its A-star hatchback in just over 10 months since production commenced in October last year. This figure includes production of the Nissan Pixo, which is a modified version of the A-star that Maruti produces for Nissan and exports to Europe. The A-star’s sibling, the Swift took 22 months to reach the same production mark.
The company says that this is fastest ever ramp-up of any Maruti Suzuki model and is thanks to the growing demand for the A-star (which is called Alto in Europe) and the Pixo in the European market due to the scrappage schemes in the U.K., Germany, France and Italy.
Production of the export versions began around December last year with the first shipments commencing in January this year. Until August 2009, Maruti had exported 40,000 units of the A-star and an additional 13,500 Nissan Pixos.
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Maruti Suzuki India chairman R. C. Bhargava said, “The A-star is doing very well in the export market and we are planning to export over 75,000 units of the car by the end of March 2010.”