Maruti Q3FY07 net up 11pc at Rs 376.41 crore

New Delhi, Jan 22: Leading car manufacturer Maruti Udyog today registered an 11 per cent growth in net profit at Rs 376.41 crore in the third quarter ending December 2006 from Rs 339 crore, on a loss incurred by a subsidiary.

The total income (net of excise) of the company stood at Rs 3,807.9 crore during October-December 2006, a growth of 18.3 per cent during the same period the previous year.

Maruti Suzuki Automobiles India Ltd, a subsidiary which was merged effective from April 2006, incurred a loss of Rs 54.61 crore during the quarter.

The company's domestic sales during October-December, 2006 grew 18.7 per cent over the same period last fiscal.

Maruti's sales, including the popular Alto and Swift hatchbacks, rose 18.7 per cent to 1,72,181 units including 9,073 units of exports in the fiscal third quarter, aiming at sales of one million units in 2010.

Maruti registered a total income of Rs 10,617.56 crore during the first nine months (April-December) of the fiscal, a growth of 16.8 per cent over the same period a year ago.

Net profit during April-December stood at Rs 1,113.42 crore, up 34.45 per cent over the same period last year.

Maruti, 54.2 per cent owned by Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp, will roll out its first 1.3 litre diesel car on Wednesday and start production at a new plant with an annual capacity of up to 2,50,000 units.

Maruti will also make a new model for European markets from 2008-09 and produce 50,000 compact cars a year for Japanese auto giant Nissan.

UNI