New Delhi: In a major exports initiative, India's largest car maker Maruti Udyog will start shipping 16,000 "Alto VX" cars worth about $ 80 million to Western Europe from March, company officials said on March 20.

In the first phase, the 1100cc premium small car would be sold in Switzerland, Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Finland and Greece.

The car would also be exported to UK, Italy and France by July- September 2002, the officials said.

"The Alto VX received a tremendous response during the just concluded Geneva Motor Show when it was displayed as the new 'Suzuki Alto'. From this month, we will commence exports of 16,000 cars to Western Europe, which is the most competitive market for small cars," the Maruti officials said.

They said the car would sport additional features like anti-lock braking system and airbags as per European safety regulations.

The engine capacity and other body specifications would, however, be the same, as that in Alto VX car, which is manufactured at Maruti's plant in Gurgaon (Haryana), the officials added.

PTI