Automobile manufacturer Ashok Leyland Ltd plans to cut 1,000 jobs during 2003-04, and to improve productivity through better processes and standardisation, R Seshasayee, the company managing director, said in Bangalore on Monday.

"We had reduced our strength from 15,300 six-seven years ago to 11,900 now. We will probably have to reduce by another 1,000," Seshasayee told reporters on the sidelines of 'Tele Trans 2003,' a conference on telematics in transportation.

He said though the Indian auto industry had come out of recession, there was going to be no additional employment.

"The Indian automobile industry has a very high level of manning," Seshasayee said.

He said Ashok Leyland had a plan for exports and was exploring new markets like Argentina, Afghanistan and Seychelles.

"We have broken new markets into Seychelles and Afghanistan during the year. We have a robust plan for export in 2002-03," Seshasayee said.