Maruti Udyog cars get dearer by upto Rs 1,017

New Delhi, Mar 15: Hit by the increased education cess announced in this year's Budget, Maruti Udyog Ltd today hiked prices of all its models by upto Rs 1,017 across all cities.

The price hike is effective from today.

''While the cess changes announced in the Union Budget 2007-08 came into effect from March 1, 2007, the company had decided to maintain its ex-showroom prices at pre-budget levels for a fortnight,'' a Maruti statement said.

Post the price hike, Swift would be costlier by Rs 656-818 across different variants.

The base model of Swift will now cost Rs 4,68,657 as against the earlier price of Rs 4,68,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).

Zen Estilo Vxi will now cost Rs 3,74,019 as against the earlier price of Rs 3,73,500.

The company's decision was keeping in mind customers who had postponed their purchases expecting certain taxes and duties to come down, in the Union Budget, the statement added.

UNI