Maruti increases car prices by up to Rs 17,000

The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) has increased the prices of its vehicles by up to Rs 17,000 following the rise in excise duty in the Budget. The increase in prices will affect the company's models ranging from small car M800 to mid-sized sedan SX4.

"There has been an average increase in prices of our vehicles by 1.75 per cent after the Budget," MSI L managing executive officer, (marketing & sales) Mayank Pareek told PTI.

Under the new pricing, the company's model Alto (800 cc) will cost Rs 4,200 to Rs 5,900 more. Company's website says it is priced in the range of Rs 2.4 lakh to Rs 3.42 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The price of the Alto K10 has been increased by Rs 5,500 to Rs 5,700. It is priced at Rs 3.14 lakh and Rs 3.30 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Another popular model, Wagon R, will now be dearer by Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,600. It is priced at Rs 3.47 lakh to Rs 4.37 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). MSIL's premium hatchback, Swif, will now cost Rs 7,700 to Rs 11,900 more depending on the variant. It is priced between Rs 4.44 lakh and Rs 6.76 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The Swift Dzire will cost Rs 8,500 to Rs 12,700 more. It is priced at Rs 4.8 lakh and Rs 7.51 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Mid-sized sedan SX4 will now cost Rs 9,400 to Rs 17,000 more. It's prices range from Rs 7.11 lakh to Rs 9.39 lakh (ex -showroom Delhi).

In Budget 2012-13, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee raised excise duty to 12 per cent from 10 per cent. The company's oldest model, M800, will be dearer by Rs 3,500 to Rs 3,900. The model is priced between Rs 2.04 lakh and Rs 2.40 lakh.

The price rise will also affect the company's other models, such as the Estillo, A-Star, Ritz, Omni, Ecco and Gypsy, which will now be dearer by Rs 3,700 to Rs 10,000-depending on the model. The excise duties for petrol cars with engines under 1,200 -cc and diesel cars with engine capacity under 1,500 -cc, with length exceeding four metres, have been increased to 24 per cent from 22 per cent and a fixed duty of Rs 15,000.

Excise duty on petrol and diesel driven vehicles with length exceeding four metres and engine capacity of over 1,200 -cc and 1,500 -cc respectively, was increased to 27 per cent, from 22 per cent earlier, alongwith a fixed duty of Rs 15,000.