The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki is understood to have asked 200 contract workers to go on indefinite leave following cut in diesel engine production at its Manesar plant due to low demand.

The company has shut the third shift at its diesel engine plant at Manesar, which has an annual capacity of 3,00,000 units, according to sources.

When contacted a company spokesperson said: “The diesel plant was operating at full capacity. With the continued slowdown in demand, some adjustments have been made at the diesel plant.”

With increase in prices of diesel, the demand for diesel cars has tapered off.

The prolonged slump in the automobile market has resulted in dip in sales.

MSI had reported 12.6 per cent decline in total sales in June at 84,455 units. During the month, its domestic sales declined 7.8 per cent at 77,002 units.

MSI exports last month were down by 43 per cent to 7,453 units, from 13,066 units in the year-ago period.

In June, to adjust production according to the demand, the company had shut its two plants in Gurgaon and Manesar for a day, which was followed by a 6-day scheduled maintenance closure during the month.

MSI has been trying to bounce back after last year’s violence at the Manesar plant in which a senior company official was killed.

It had locked-out the plant for a month following the incident in July and it had fired at least 500 permanent workers.

Car sales in India appear to be heading for a record 8th consecutive month of decline with major firms including MSI, Tata Motors, Toyota and General Motors reporting drop in June as economic slowdown and low consumer sentiments continue to affect demand.

The overall official sales figures for June are yet to be released by auto industry body SIAM.

The sales had fallen for a record 7th consecutive month in May with a decline of 12.26 per cent at 1,43,216 units as against 1,63,222 units in the same month of 2012.

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