Maruti sales vaulted 35 per cent to 38,715 vehicles in October 2003, as opposed to 28,630 units sold in the same month last year.

Exports grew two-fold to 5,260 units in October.

Maruti is not just the largest Indian carmaker, it is also a good corporate citizen. The company undertakes many welfare programmes from time to time. Every year it organises blood donation camps along with the Red Cross. Eye check-up camps, family planning-related camps, and other health camps are also organised periodically.

The company runs Maruti Shiksha Kendra, an educational programme for the underprivileged. The objective of this project is to educate children from families below the poverty line from the villages of Gurgaon district. A total of 120 students in the age group of 5 to 8 have already enrolled. Books, writing material and uniforms, refreshment and transport facilities are provided to these children.

MUL also runs Chetna, an education programme for mothers.

Maruti has also added a 'special' car -- Zen-AX Easy Drive -- in its stable. Its special gadgets and gears make it easy to drive and manoeuvre. The Zen-AX Easy Drive is available in nine different combinations.