Car sales up 41% in May

Driven by strong growth registered by all major car manufacturers, including Maruti, Hyundai and Tata Engineering, overall car sales in the ...

Driven by strong growth registered by all major car manufacturers, including Maruti, Hyundai and Tata Engineering, overall car sales in the country have surged by 41 per cent in May 2003. Total sales rose to 55,166 units in May from 39,150 units in the same month last year, data released by the society of Indian automobile manufacturers (SIAM) revealed. May sales were also higher by 30 per cent as compared to 42,506 cars sold in April 2003. Sale of trucks and buses rose by 27.4 per cent to 16,725 units during the review month (13,123 units in May 2002) with light and heavy vehicles posting higher sales.

However, total two-wheeler sales went up only by 3.5 per cent to 4.40 lakh units as demand for motorcycles slowed down during the month, while scooters and mopeds recorded a decline. Motorcycle sales went up by a modest 7.1 per cent to 3,47,059 units (3,23,792 units) while scooters suffered a 3 per cent drop at 71,392 units (73,578 units).

Sale of multi-utility-vehicles (MUVs) jumped by 26.5 per cent to 10,217 units in May 2003 as firms like Mahindra & Mahindra and Toyota Kirloskar witnessed increased demand. Multi-purpose-vehicles (MPVs) too recorded a 17.7 per cent rise at 5,351 units, while three-wheeler sales went up by 5.26 per cent to 17,587 units during the month under review.Car market leader Maruti Udyog posted a 52.7 per cent increase at 30,894 units in May 2003 while Hyundai Motor India went up by 192.3 per cent at 8,755 units.

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Ford and Fiat, however, recorded 28.4 and 65.8 per cent drop in sales at 1,133 and 1,204 units respectively. In the MUV segment, Mahindra & Mahindra recorded a 33 per cent jump at 4,748 units, while Toyota Kirloskar surged by 55.2 per cent to 2,643 units.

Medium and heavy (M&H) bus and truck sales surged by 28.6 per cent to 9,943 units during May this year. Light commercial vehicle (LCVs) sales went up by 25.7 per cent to 6,782 units. Truck and bus sales increased by 32 and 9.6 per cent to 5,103 and 1,679 units respectively. Sale of motorcycle and step-thru makers like Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto and TVS slowed down.