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Dealers cut Maruti Zen-D price by Rs 60,000; Daewoo unveils Nexia, Cielo Executive

Maruti Udyog Limited dealers are now offering a Rs 60,000 rebate on the Zen-D.

The move is an attempt to clear stocks and push up sales volumes, said industry observers.

Zen-D, the only diesel vehicle from MUL, has been a non-mover since its launch in September 1998.

''Even the Rs 37,000 drop in the price tag of the vehicle recently had failed to work wonders on its embarrassingly low sales figures. Now we have to clear stocks and are so offering these massive rebates,'' a leading dealer in New Delhi said.

The Zen diesel is currently priced at Rs 426,052 (ex-showroom) in Delhi.

However, its other vehicles, particularly Maruti 800, are still attracting a premium of around Rs 7,000-8,000.

Prior to this, the dealers had offered an over Rs 35,000 rebate on the Esteem models.

Industry watchers said this latest move by the MUL dealers is in keeping with the trend in the market. ''There are no buyers for the car and inventories are piling up. The dealers had no other option but to trim the price tag to remain in the market.''

MUL dealers would now start feeling the heat with even Daewoo Motors India Limited having stripped down its small car Matiz and dropped prices by over Rs 100,000.

Meanwhile, DMIL today unveiled an all-new 1.5 litre luxury car -- Nexia, priced at Rs 655,000 in Delhi, besides an improved version of the Cielo, called the Cielo Executive.

The Nexia, which would carry a price tag of Rs 655,630 (ex-showroom in Delhi), would be displayed at Bombay Auto Show beginning tomorrow.

Order acceptance for the Nexia would commence on April 12 and deliveries would begin in May this year on a first-come-first-served basis.

Nexia, the company said, boasts of the largest wheel-base with internal refinements giving the occupants maximum space and comfort.

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