New Delhi, 8 September A recent study by Global insight forecasts India to be one of the largest manufacturers of small cars (A-segment) by the year 2013. Global Insight, a worldwide leader in providing market intelligence, has credited the country's technical expertise, low cost, stable economy, current government policies favoring small cars, large and integrated supplier base, and competence in diesel power train manufacturing as key reasons for this. The study forecasts, by 2013, India will produce about 31 per cent of the world's small cars. Last year, about one million small cars were manufactured in India. Global small car production will grow from the current two million units to about five million units by 2013. This will place India as the fifth largest producer of small cars in 2013 -- behind China, Japan, the US, and Germany, from the current tenth position. The study predicts the export of small cars, which currently stands at about 250,000 units, will approach the one million mark by 2013. Aided by car manufacturers like Hyundai and Martin Suzuki, which currently export large volumes of cars annually from India--and will step up exports once the `i20' and 'A star' are launched by the end of the year - and auto companies like Ford, GM, Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen, which are investing in capacities for exports. Rising fuel prices and interest rites; mid fluctuating commodity prices that push the costs of production of cars, have been cited as the key reasons for the preference for small cars in the future. The impending launch of Tata Motors' Nano will also raise the sales of small cars. The study predicts about. 27 per cent of the small car segment to be garnered by the ultra low-cost (ULC) cars likes the Nano by 2013. The study also predicts a larger market share for Tata Motors on the back of the Nano launch (from 21 to 25 per cent), while Martin's current market share of about 40 per cent will be pared to about 30 per cent in 2013. It says India will have one of the most competitive small car segments in the world by that time.