The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) is looking at a double-digit sales growth in the north eastern market in 2012-13.

"We expect the car market to grow by at least 10 per cent nationally this fiscal. Similarly, we are also expecting a similar jump in our sales including in the north eastern states," MSI Chief General Manager (Parts & Accessories) Amitava Roy said.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the company's multi-purpose vehicle 'Ertiga' here. The company had sold over 36,000 units of its various models in the north eastern states in 2011-12. Its compact car 'Alto' contributed to over 40 per cent of the total sales.

"We are also looking at ramping up our dealership network in the region along with rest of India," Roy said without quoting any figures. MSI currently has 19 retail outlets and 12 e-outlets in the North East.

Roy said MSI expected the Ertega to perform well in Assam and the north eastern region. MSI formally made its foray into the multi-purpose vehicle segment with the launch of Ertiga at an introductory price of up to Rs 8.81 lakh (ex-showroom Guwahati). The car would be available in both petrol and diesel variants.

"This is a family vehicle but for multiple purposes and we are tyring to create a new segment with the Ertiga," Roy said. The Ertiga will be in the same MPV segment as Toyota's 'Innova' and Mahindra & Mahindra's 'Xylo'

The global launch of the car, designed specifically for the Indian market, took place in New Delhi on Thursday.
The MUV segment accounts for 14% of passenger vehicle sales in the country. Indians bought 2.6 million passenger vehicles in fiscal 2012, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) lobby group.

The sales of passenger vehicles --cars, utility vehicles and vans--slowed to at least 5% in the last fiscal from 30% growth in fiscal 2011. Maruti's share of the passenger vehicles market slipped to 38% in the last fiscal from 45% in the year before.

Starting at '5.89 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the petrol variant is expected to target premium hatchbacks such as Honda Siel Cars India Ltd's Jazz and Hyundai Motor India Ltd's i20, according to analysts. The diesel variant, which starts at '7.3 lakh, will compete with mid-sized sedans such as Hyundai's Fluidic Verna and Honda's City.

"It is a vehicle that will target customers right from premium hatch buyers to sedan customers," said Nikhil Deshpande, research analyst, Pinc Research, a Mumbai-based brokerage firm. "The pricing has been spot on, which would force a lot of customers to look at it."