On Friday, the country's leading passenger car maker, Maruti Suzuki announced that it had started to export its newly launched small car A-star to Europe.

M.M. Singh, the company's managing executive officer (production) informed, “This dispatch of first consignment of A-star from Gurgaon railway station is a quantum leap for Maruti Suzuki towards the company's future as a small car manufacturing hub for Suzuki, Japan.”

The first batch of A-star exports has left in an especially designed wagon from the Gurgaon railway station for Mundra port in Gujarat.  

The company had informed earlier that it would increase exports of its presented models to 100,000 units and export large volumes of A-star to European markets beginning 2009.

Singh said, “The A-star cars will be sold under Suzuki Alto brand in Europe. Maruti has invested in a new port and dedicated car handling facility at Mundra port.”