Car sales up 46.47 pc in February

New Delhi: Domestic passenger car sales continue its spectacular growth and grew by 46.47 per cent in February 2007 compared to the sales of the same month a year ago. Motorcycle sales also grew by 4.93 per cent during that period.

According to figures released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), domestic passenger car sales stood at 92,594 units as against 63,213 units in the same month a year ago.

Seemingly large overall growth figure in the passenger cars segment was due to the fact that in the corresponding month last year sales were minimal as customers postponed purchases in expectation of the excise duty cut on small cars, analysts pointed out.

Market leader Maruti Udyog continues to be the front runner clocking 50,666 units during in February this year as against 32,259 units in the corresponding period last year, up 57 per cent.

Tata Motors was the second with 16,016 units as against 14,200 units in the corresponding period last year, up 12.78 per cent, while Hyundai Motor India Ltd registered a sales of 15,432 units as against 8,780 units in the same month last year, up 75.76 per cent.

In contrast, motorcycle sales during the month stood at 5,16,410 units as against 4,92,116 units in the same month a year ago, up by 4.93 per cent, SIAM said.

The slow growth was mainly on account of second largest manufacturer Bajaj Auto dropping sales to 1,46,642 units as against 1,57,386 units in the same month last year, down 6.82 per cent.

Hero Honda clocked 2,67,856 units during the month as against 2,41,232 units last year, up 11 per cent.

According to SIAM, scooter sales during the month was up 11.67 per cent at 82,944 units as against 74,271 units in the same month a year ago.

Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India clocked 49,952 units as against 45,935 units in the same month last year, while Hero Honda had 7,491 units as against 3,000 units.

Total two wheeler sales during the month stood at 6,31,514 units as against 5,95,713 units, up 6 per cent.

In the commercial vehicles front, sales during February this year grew by 26.45 per cent at 44,322 units as against 35,049 units in the corresponding month last year, SIAM said.

Tata Motors continued its hold over the Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicle (M&HCV) goods carrier segment clocking 15,035 units compared to 12,085 units in the same month last year, up 19.62 units. Ashok Leyland registered sales of 6,041 units as against 4,424 units.

SIAM said the cumulative growth of passenger vehicles segment during April-February 2007 compared to the corresponding period in the last year was 22.91 per cent, while that of passenger cars in the same duration was 24.76 per cent.

Commercial vehicles segment grew by 36.12 per cent during the April-February 2007 period, while three wheeler sales grew by 14.5 per cent, it added.

For the same period, two wheeler sales grew by 12.56 per cent, with motorcycles segment witnessing a growth of 14.45 per cent.

Overall automobile exports during the period grew by 26.47 per cent, with passenger vehicles at 12.7 per cent, CV at 24.22 per cent, two wheelers at 21.61 per cent and three wheelers at 91.52 per cent, SIAM added.