Maruti Suzuki sales down 4.4 percent in December

India's largest passenger car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki Wednesday reported a 4.4 percent decline in total sales for December which stood at 90,924 units due to a fall in exports.

The company sold 95,145 units in December 2012.

There was a sharp drop in the company's exports. Maruti Suzuki exported just 4,311 units last month, which was 67 percent less than 13,072 units sold overseas during the corresponding month of 2012.

However, the company's domestic sale increased by 5.5 percent to 86,613 units during the month under review as compared to 82,073 units sold in December, 2012.

Sales in passenger cars segment, which comprises of brands like M800, Alto, A-Star, WagonR, Swift, Estilo, Ritz, Dzire, SX4 and Kizashi, inched higher by 6.4 percent at 73,155 units from an off-take of 68,729 in the corresponding month of 2012.

The off-take of utility vehicles like Gypsy, Grand, Vitara and Ertiga slumped by 5.5 percent at 5,146 percent from sales of 5,447 units in December, 2012.

Sales in van segment that includes vehicles like Omni and Eeco, gained 5.3 percent to 8,312 units from an off-take of 7,897 units in the corresponding month of 2012.

The Maruti scrip at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) closed marginally higher by 0.35 points or 0.02 percent higher at Rs.1,763.35 from Tuesday's close of Rs.1,763.