'Price cut decision only next year'

Maruti Suzuki posted a 2.47 per cent sales growth during the first seven months of FY09, while its closest competitor Hyundai grew by 26 per cent for the same period on the strength of brands like the i10.

Excerpts from an interaction with R C Bhargava, chairman of Maruti Suzuki, after the company launched A-Star, the
company's latest offering.

Would you be able to maintain your earlier  target of exporting 150,000 cars to Europe?

In the worst circumstances, we would be able to export 100,000 A -Stars next year. The deal with Nissan to sell 50,000 cars  is still on.

The number we quote is indicative and not final. However, given the preference for small cars across Europe, we are hopeful of achieving this export target.

Your exports have never crossed even 50,000?

Last year, we exported 53,000 cars to 40 countries, which is the highest number we achieved.

With the A-Star, we are hopeful of exporting 100,000 cars to Europe alone and another 100,000 to other countries by 2010-11.

After all, the A-Star