As part of its diversification plan, Maruti Udyog has made a foray into the arena of vending insurance products.

The expansion plan, prepared with the help of consulting firm A T Kearney, provides Maruti carowners a wider choice in motor, personal, accident and health insurance coverage.

Maruti tied up with eight finance companies -- Citicorp Maruti, Maruti Countrywide, ICICI, HDFC Bank, Standard Chartered, ABN AMRO, Kotak Mahindra and Sundaram Finance -- to offer car finance schemes.

The car finance and auto insurance are part of the company's four-pronged entry into the services sector under the 'Project Vistaar' programme this fiscal. Maruti also has a corporate lease and fleet management business under the N2N brandname, and the used-car business christened Maruti True Value.

The launch of Maruti True Value provided reassurance to customers about the disposal of their cars.

Under Maruti True Value, Maruti cars less than four years old, driven for up to 60,000 km, and not having changed two previous ownerships, are accepted for purchase. Designated engineers from Maruti, who are present at True Value outlets, conduct a standard 120-point check of a vehicle brought to the outlet.

Under True Value, the seller has the option to be paid in cash, or get a True Value car in exchange, or a brand new Maruti car in exchange.