From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 10:02 PM IST

Hindustan Motors Ltd, part of the CK Birla group, has posted a net loss of $3.6 million for the second quarter this fiscal, compared to $62,000 in the year-ago period.

'Rising input costs, foreign exchange rates and paucity of retail finance have impacted the quarter's performance,' a company statement said Tuesday.

The automobile industry in India experienced a slowdown in the past few months, and it grew 2.8 percent (year-on-year) in September after a two-month drop.

Hindustan Motors has Mitsubishi's Lancer, Pajero, Cedia, Montero and the recently launched Outlander line-up of vehicles as part of a 10-year old joint venture agreement.

The company also churns out the iconic Ambassador car from its own stable.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)