Maruti Udyog Ltd on Wednesday launched the popular sports-utility-vehicle Grand Vitara XL-7 and said its passenger vehicle sales would increase considerably this fiscal.

The vehicle has been priced at Rs 15.96 lakhs (Rs 1.6 million) for the standard version and Rs 16.77 lakhs (both prices ex-showroom Delhi) for the limited edition variant, Maruti managing director Jagdish Khattar said.

He said the Grand Vitara XL-7 would be imported as a completely-built-unit from its parent Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan in limited numbers.

"This year (2003-04), should be very much better than last year. Our focus is on improving our overall marketshare," Khattar said but declined to disclose any sales targets for this fiscal.

Maruti, the country's largest carmaker remained flat at 275,000 units during 2002-03. As against this, the domestic car industry grew by 6.4 per cent to 541,000 units.

Overall, the company's domestic passenger vehicle sales fell by 2.5 per cent to 327,000 units.