Maruti Suzuki is targeting markets in rural areas and tier II cities to build more volumes for its newly introduced Alto 800 cars.
In Kerala, the company is selling 8,000 cars in a month of which Alto constitutes 30-35 per cent of total sales. Maruti also enjoys 58 per cent market share in Kerala, the highest across any other state, Ram Suresh Akella, General Manager, Commercial Business Head (South) said.
Akella, who was here in connection with the launch of the vehicle in the Kerala market, said that the company is eying a 25 per cent growth in the rural market in the current fiscal.
Small towns and niche segments like turmeric farmers in Tiruchengode in Tamil Nadu, spices farmers in Kerala and apple growers in Himachal Pradesh are being targeted to achieve this growth, he said.
Extension outlets
The company has taken steps to enhance its presence in smaller towns by opening extension outlets. Currently, there are about 500 extension outlets out of 11,000 sale points.
There is a good demand for Alto cars as it is the best entry level car and is fuel-efficient, he said, adding that the company had sold 25,000 Alto cars in a month last year.
There are also plans to export the new Alto to Latin America and African countries, he added.