Major auto makers,including Maruti Suzuki,Hyundai Motor,Tata Motors and Hero MotoCorp,today reported increase in their sales in February,showing a revival in the market after prolonged sluggishness. In January also,car makers,including Maruti Suzuki,Hyundai and Tata Motors,had seen their sales increasing,indicating buoyancy in the auto industry in the new year. Last month,the country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki recorded its highest domestic sales for the current fiscal at 1,07,653 units compared to 1,01,543 units in the year-ago period,registering a growth of 6.02 per cent. The figure in last month was the second highest in its history after 1,10,424 units that was registered in March 2011. Similarly,rival Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) also witnessed its highest ever domestic sales at 36,805 units last month as against 32,629 units in the year-ago period,registering a growth of 12.80 per cent. "Even in the tough market situation,Eon sales have helped us to achieve the highest ever domestic sales," HMIL Director (Marketing and Sales) Arvind Saxena said. Homegrown Tata Motors' total passenger vehicles sales in the domestic market stood at 34,832 units in February,up 9.16 per cent from 31,909 units in the same month last year. Another auto major Mahindra & Mahindra's (M&M) total sale of passenger vehicles,including Scorpio,XUV500,Xylo,Bolero and Verito,stood at 20,573 units during the month under review as against 15,439 units in February 2011,a growth rate of 33.25 per cent. "We are happy to maintain a healthy growth in February 2012 with all our brands doing well. While the XUV500 continues to create excitement in the market,the recently launched New Xylo has also evoked a very positive response from customers," M&M Chief Executive (Automotive Division) Pravin Shah said. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) reported 78.98 per cent increase in its sales at 16,659 units in February,driven by robust demand for its latest 'Etios' and 'Liva' models. It had sold 9,308 units in the corresponding month last year. "We have seen good sales last month across all our products. The Etios series continues to lead the sales. New Innova and New Fortuner are registering good sales numbers," TKM Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh said. Another carmaker Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) saw its sales climbing up by 82.86 per cent to 8,856 units from 4,843 units in the same month last year. "With normal production resuming in our Greater Noida plant from middle of last month,we are working towards normalising the supplies and cater to the growing demand of our cars," HSCI Senior Vice President (Sales and Marketing) Jnaneswar Sen said. However,General Motors India posted a 4.32 per cent decline in its sales at 8,901 units compared to 9,303 units in the same month last year. "The sales were not on the expected lines as the market continues to be sluggish. High interest rates,hike in fuel prices,commodity prices,growing inflation and negative market sentiments continue to put lot of pressure on the automobile market," GM India Vice-President P Balendran said. Car maker Ford India also reported a 2.82 per cent fall in its total sales during February at 10,424 units as against 10,726 units in the corresponding month last year. In the two-wheeler segment,market leader Hero MotoCorp reported 10.89 per cent rise in its sales for February at 5,23,465 units. It had sold 4,72,055 units in February 2011. "We have been consistently clocking over five lakh units in sales,and our performance in the first two months January and February - has maintained that trend in both despatch and retail sales," Hero MotoCorp Senior Vice President (Marketing and Sales) Anil Dua said. Rival two-wheeler manufacturer Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India saw 41.30 per cent growth in its total sales for February at 2,06,043 units compared to 1,45,819 units in the corresponding month of the previous year. Another two-wheeler maker India Yamaha registered a 23.03 per cent increase in its total sales at 40,655 units as against 33,046 units in the same month last year. "We are very pleased with the sales growth that we've witnessed in the past month on account of our strong product portfolio and high customer confidence in us," India Yamaha Motor National Business Head Roy Kurian said. Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) reported a 29.85 per cent increase in its sales during February to 37,336 units from 28,754 units in the same month last year. Commenting on the sales growth,SMIPL Vice-President (Sales and Marketing) Atul Gupta said,"We have received a good response from the market for all our products,including the newly launched Swish 125. The growing customer satisfaction has led to positive word-of-mouth in the market." However,Chennai-based TVS Motor Company's total two-wheeler sales fell by 2.43 per cent last month to 1,68,996 units from 1,73,200 units in the year-ago period.
