"We are certain that sales will cross the 6 lakh mark this year," Jagdish Khattar, MUL managing director said after launching Suzuki's world car 'Swift' in the Indian market.

The company, 54.2 per cent owned by Suzuki Motor Corporation saw sales increase 13.6 per cent in 2004-05 to 5,36,301 units against 4,72,122 units in the previous year.

Asked whether MUL, which is setting up a second manufacturing facility along with Suzuki, is facing production constraints, Khattar said, "We will be able to stretch it to over six lakh units (per annum)." MUL currently has three plants at its existing facility at Gurgaon in Haryana.

The company's new car plant at Manesar would be set up through a joint venture called Maruti Suzuki Automobiles India Ltd. In this joint venture, MUL will hold 70 per cent equity and Suzuki Motor Corporation the remaining 30 per cent.

An investment of Rs 1,524.20 crore (Rs 15.24 billion) is planned for the new car plant with an initial capacity of one lakh units annually, which will have scope to go up to 2.50 lakh cars annually. The new plant would begin commercial production by the end of 2006, the company has said.

Khattar said the company's diesel plant project is also going ahead and construction has started. "It is likely to be completed by the end of calendar 2006," he said.