The Hindu Business Line : Passenger car sales see robust growth in Sept

Year-on-year rise
Maruti sales rose by 22 per cent, Honda's by 51.6 per cent, Tata Motors' by 15.7 per cent, General Motors by 9 per cent
Increasing demand for newer models as well as discounts/promotional schemes in the market account for the rise

New Delhi , Oct. 3

Passenger car sales continued to maintain a robust growth rate in September, despite the month being traditionally weak for car sales in north India. Most carmakers recorded higher sales on the back of increasing demand for newer models as well as due to various discounts/promotional schemes in the market.

Maruti sales

Market leader Maruti Udyog Ltd reported a 22 per cent increase in domestic sales at 56,606 vehicles during September 2006 compared with 46,393 vehicles in the year-ago period.

Total sales during the month stood at 59,420 vehicles, including 2,814 units of exports, a company statement said.

The sales driver for the company were the compact car segment (which includes the Alto, WagonR, Zen and Swift), which grew by 28.9 per cent at 37,955 units compared with 29,456 units in September 2005. Sales in the midsize segment (Baleno and Esteem) rose by 7.6 per cent at 3,410 units as against 3,168 units sold in September 2005, while Maruti 800 sales increased by 3.5 per cent at 7,680 units in September.

New launch

Meanwhile, Honda Siel Cars India recorded a growth of 51.6 per cent in the month of September 2006, with its newly launched Civic notching up volumes.

Honda sold a total of 5,993 units in September 2006 as against 3,953 units sold in the corresponding month last year. This includes 3,776 units of the City and 1,999 units of the Civic.

Other companies

Tata Motors' passenger vehicle business reported a sale of 18,609 vehicles in the domestic market in September 2006, an increase of 15.7 per cent over September 2005. The Indica sold 10,694 units, a growth of 10.6 per cent, while cars under the Indigo brand registered a sales increase of 6.4 per cent in the month. The Sumo and Safari accounted for sales of 4,347 units, a growth of 42.3 per cent over September 2005 with the Safari registering its highest ever sales of 1,543 units in the month.

Skoda India achieved sales of 1,251 units in September 2006, a growth of 37.62 per cent over 909 units in September last year. The sales figure includes 88 units of the flagship model SkodaSuperb.

Meanwhile, General Motors India sold 3,506 units in September 2006 as against 3,220 cars in the same month last year to record a growth of 9 per cent in monthly sales. The September 2006 sales comprises 2,222 units of Chevrolet Tavera, 421 units of Chevrolet Optra and 863 units of Chevrolet Aveo. Chevrolet Tavera achieved a landmark by clocking the highest-ever monthly sales of 2,222 units in the month.

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