August 26, 2002	Monday	Jamadi-us-Saani 16,1423

NEW DELHI, Aug 25: India’s largest carmaker, Maruti Udyog Ltd., on Sunday said it hopes to sell 20,000 units of its latest model abroad this fiscal year, raising the annual export target by 50 percent.

Maruti managing director Jagdish Khattar said the company, in which previously the Indian government and Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp. held equal equity, has since the beginning of March begun shipping 16,000 Alto cars worth 80 million dollars to European markets.

“We are targeting an increase of more than 50 per cent in exports this fiscal year due to the success of the Alto abroad,” Khattar told PTI. Suzuki Altos tagged for overseas markets, will have extra features such as anti-lock brakes and airbags, in line with European regulations, he said.—AFP