Maruti Udyog Ltd [Get Quote] said on Wednesday sales were expected to rise 18 per cent in the first half of this fiscal in the domestic market.

"We expect sales to be up by 18 per cent in the April to September period," Maruti Udyog Chief General Manager (Marketing) Mayank Pareek said.

The company sold a total of 5,27,038 units in the domestic market last fiscal at a growth of 8.1 per cent. Including exports, the growth in 2005-06 was 4.8 per cent at 5,61,822 units.

Suzuki Chief Osamu Suzuki, recently on a visit to India, had said that the company expects total sales (including exports) to grow by 12 per cent this fiscal at 6,30,000 units.

Maruti, 54.2 per cent owned by Suzuki, is expected to launch two new models later this fiscal.

This includes an all new model of its compact car Zen as well as a 1.3-litre diesel variant of its premium hatchback Swift.

Pareek said exports for Maruti were "likely to remain flat this fiscal, following Suzuki's decision to serve the European market through its facility in Hungary instead of the Alto from India.

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