Maruti to review prices in December

New Delhi: Country's biggest carmaker Maruti Udyog Ltd said on Friday it will review car prices in December this year.

"We will take a call in December for a price review from January," Maruti Managing Director Jagdish Khattar said when asked whether the company plans to hike car prices.

Maruti had last reviewed car prices in August this year, when it raised them by 0.17-1.47 percent, translating into a hike ranging between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000.

Cars covered under the last review included the Alto, Maruti800, mid-size Esteem and van Omni, though others like the Swift and Zen were spared. Khattar, however, refused to specify the models, which can see a price review or the possible quantum.

"How much and when cannot be specified now," he said. Buoyed by higher sales and realisations, the car market leader reported a 39.8 per cent rise in net profit for the quarter ended September 30, at Rs 367.4 crore against Rs 262.6 crore in the same period last year.

The company, 54.2 per cent owned by Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp, said total income (net of excise) in the period grew 12.5 per cent in July-September 2006 period at Rs 3,540.8 crore from Rs 3,146.8 crore in the same period last year.