The sales rise has been achieved inspite of a growth of only about 4 per cent to 5 per cent in the passenger-car market and a negative growth of nearly 22 per cent in the luxury segment, the officials said at a function organised to launch the company's diesel car Zen-D on Friday.

Zen-D has been simultaneously launched in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Chandigarh. Maruti's share in the domestic car market was put at 79.6 per cent during the period, the officials said.

The company earned an estimated profit before tax of Rs 976 crore, an increase of 20.8 per cent in 1997-98, compared with the previous year's Rs 808 crore. Profit after tax stood at Rs 651 crore, against Rs 510 crore in 1996-97, the officials said.

The post tax earnings per share of Rs 100 was Rs 492, the sources said.

Total income registered an increase of 6.3 per cent, the officials said. Maruti's productivity continued to rise during the period when the net worth increased by 40.9 per cent, they added.