Mumbai dealers say the company has issued instructions and doubled their sales targets so that more cars can be sold in the region which is the second largest and an alternative market after the New Delhi market. At present, Maruti sales about 2,000 units of 800s and Omnis in Mumbai per month.

Cheap finance from its subsidiary -- Countrywide Maruti has been thrown in as an extra to entice customers. Company officials say that they would give delivery `off the shelf' to Mumbai customers as all the cars which are not meeting the Euro-I norms are being diverted toMumbai.

At present only Zen and Esteem are meeting the Euro I norms from Maruti's stable. But its most popular model 800 and cheapest Omni are facing problems over the emission norms. From June 1, the company says that it will be able to sell Euro-I cars in New Delhi and gradually expand it to cover all cities.

Maruti's loss has turned out to be a big gain for Hyundai's Santro and Daewoo's Matiz who have moved into the top gear to sell more cars. Both Korean chaebols have unleased a marketing and advertising drive based on the fact that their cars are meeting all the emission norms and they are `future proof'.

Though Telco Indica is also meeting the Euro I emission norms, it has failed to tap the demand as its production schedule is slower than the other Korean car makers.