Owing to rising production cost Maruti has hiked prices on select car models ranging between Rs 2000 and Rs 6000. Announcing the hike, the MD and CEO Shinzo Nakanishi said the company's profitability was affected by rising input costs, specially that of steel and the company's inability to pass it on completely to customers.

 

For car buyers the news has come just ahead of Diwali. After increase of the price in select models, M800 would be costlier by Rs 2,000 while Alto would cost Rs 2,500 more. Similarly, the company has raised the price of its compact cars Zen Estilo and WagonR by Rs 3,000. There has been hike in price of Maruti Omni van by Rs 2,200.

 

Nakanishi said that the company would look at price as the last option after undertaking internal cost cuttings. Evidently, Maruti has been leading in car sales with its reasonably priced cars. Reportedly, the company's multi-utility vehicle Gypsy would now be costlier by Rs 5,500. Similarly, hatchback Swift would also be costlier by Rs 4,500.