New Delhi: India's largest car-maker Maruti Udyog has slashed prices of its entry-level car 'Maruti 800' by Rs 15,000 and Rs 18,000 with effect from July 23.

The new ex-showroom Delhi price of the 'Maruti 800' Standard (Euro-I) model now stands reduced by Rs 18,000 (8.7 per cent) to Rs 1,88,619 from Rs 2,06,619 previously.

Price of the Maruti-800 (Standard Euro-II) has come down by Rs 15,000 (6.7 per cent) to Rs 2,06,419 from the earlier Rs 2,214,19.

The Maruti 800 Deluxe (Euro-II) model would now cost Rs 2,55,534 (Rs 2,73,534), a reduction of Rs 18,000 (6.6 per cent), a company statement said in New Delhi.

Today's move is believed to be influenced by dropping sales of the company's bread-and-butter model, which has witnessed a sharp decline during April-June 2002-03.

Sales of the 'Maruti 800' drove down by 28.2 per cent to 24,982 units from 34,797 units in the same period last fiscal.

Overall, the company's car sales dropped 20.2 per cent year-on-year to 54,016 cars from 67,727 cars.

When contacted, Maruti officials declined to comment on whether prices of other models would also be reduced in the near future.

PTI