Car sales jump by 53 pc

However, automobile exports continued to decline over the period, with passenger car exports dropping to 12,375 units in April-November 1999 from 14,270 units in the same period the previous year, according to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers SIAM on Friday.

As far as November is concerned, car sales zoomed by 91.44 per cent at 54,079 units this year compared to 28,249 in the same month the previous year. Maruti Udyog sold 33,988 units in November as against 19,738 units in the previous year and Hyundai Motor India had sales of 6,971 units in the same period this year.

However, commercial vehicles grew by just 2.95 per cent in November at 12,344 units from 11,990 units in the previous year. Sales of medium and heavy trucks stood at 62,851 units during the eight-month period, up 47 per cent from 42,506 units.

Light commercial vehicle sales were 35,121 units during April-November this year, up 1.69 per cent from 34,539 units in the corresponding period the previous year.

Sales of two-wheelers increased from 2,367,207 units during the April-November period compared to 2,193,220 units in the previous year. Scooter sales decreased to 811,087 units in the same period from 867,776 units in the April-November period the previous year.

Three-wheelers8217; sale rose marginally to 132,192 units from 131,087 units in April-November 1998. Two-wheeler segment, on the other hand, was the worst hit by the decline in exports, registering a negative growth of 25.95 per cent at 47,530 units during the eight months of this fiscal from 64,182 units in April-November 1998.

Utility vehicles, however, escaped the declining trend, recording an 80.63 per cent rise in exports during the period. As many as 12,375 units of passenger cars were exported, down 13.28 per cent from 14,270 units.

Maruti plans new model every year

NEW DELHI: The Japanese auto giant Suzuki Motor Corporation SMC intends to launch a model every year in India through its joint venture Maruti Udyog, Heavy Industries Minister Manohar Joshi said here today.

Joshi said the visiting SMC president and chief executive officer CEO, O Suzuki, told him about his intention of launching a new car every year. He said the government would extend full support and co-operation to Maruti, a 50:50 joint venture between SMC and the government of India.

Inaugurating the third plant of the company here, Joshi said he had requested Suzuki to extend greater support to Maruti so that full transfer of technology could take place and indigenisation targets were achieved.

Suzuki said Maruti should further improve quality and efficiency at the plant. Pointing out that the Indian automobile industry was facing tough competition at the moment, he said installed capacity of the automobile industry was about 1.25 million units whereas the demand was only 0.65 million vehicles.