Maruti aims 12% of total sales from rural mkt

Buoyed by growing response to its cars from the rural areas, Maruti Suzuki today said it targets to achieve 12 per cent of its total sales from rural areas.

"We are targeting that at least 12 per cent of our total sales should be in rural areas across the country in 2009-10 against 9 per cent in last fiscal," Maruti Suzuki India Chief General Manager (sales) R S Kalsi told reporters here today on the sidelines of launch of Ritz car.

Having shifted its focus to rural areas in a bid to jack up car sales in non-urban areas, Maruti has witnessed over 100 per cent growth in the rural market's share in total sales during last fiscal.

"Earlier, we used to have 4.5 per cent share of car sold in rural areas out of total sales but it has now surged to 9 per cent following the company's emphasis on capturing rural markets," he said.

As part of its efforts to step up sales in rural markets, the company has recruited 2,500 sales executives last year, he said, adding, Alto and WagonR have been some of the favourites of rural people. Last fiscal, the company sold 7.22 lakh cars in domestic market.