Maruti hikes prices by up to Rs 17,000

Following the hike in excise duty from 10 per cent to 12 per cent in the Budget, India's leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki India ( MSI) on Sunday increased prices of its vehicles by up to Rs 17,000.

Maruti's most-preferred model Alto (800 cc) will now cost Rs 4,200 to Rs 5,900 more depending on the model. As per the company's website, it is priced ranging from Rs 2.4 lakh to Rs 3.42 lakh ( ex- showroom Delhi). The price of Alto K10 has been increased by Rs 5,500 to Rs 5,700 as well.

It is priced at Rs 3.14 lakh and Rs 3.30 lakh ( exshowroom Delhi). The increase in prices will affect the company's models ranging from small car M800 to mid-sized sedan SX4.

According to Mayank Pareek, MSI's managing executive officer, there has been an average increase in prices of Maruti vehicles by 1.75 per cent after the Budget. Another popular model from the company Wagon R will now be dearer by Rs 6,000 to Es 7,600. It is priced at Rs 3.47 lakh to Rs 4.37 lakh (ex- showroom Delhi).

MSI's premium hatchback Swift will now cost Rs 7,700 to Rs 11,900 more depending on variants.

It is priced between Rs 4.44 lakh and Rs 6.76 lakh ( ex- showroom Delhi).

Similarly, the newly launched Swift Dzire will be more expensive by Rs 8,500 to Rs 12,700.

It is priced at Rs 4.8 lakh and Rs 7.51 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). SX4 will now cost Rs 9,400 to Rs 17,000 more. Its prices range from Rs 7.11 lakh to Rs 9.39 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

On the other hand, Maruti's oldest model M800 will be dearer by Rs 3,500 to Rs 3,900. The model is priced between Rs 2.04 lakh and Rs 2.40 lakh (ex- showroom Delhi). The price hike will also affect the company's other models such as the Estillo, A- Star, Ritz, Omni, Ecco and Gypsy, which will now be dearer by Rs 3,700 to Rs 10,000, depending on the model.

The excise duties for petrol cars with engines under 1,200 cc and diesel cars with engine capacity under 1,500 cc with length exceeding four metres have been increased to 24 per cent from 22 per cent and a fixed duty of Rs 15,000.