Commercial vehicles sales down 21 pc

Sales of MUVs came down to 79,349 units in the first nine months of the current fiscal as compared to the corresponding period of 1997. Three-wheeler sales declined to 1,49,749 units in the reference period from 1,76,145 units sold in April-December 1997.

Sluggish market demand also affected the passenger car segment as sales came down by five per cent to 2,89,858 cars in April-Decemberof the current fiscal from 3,05,917 units in the same period last year. Barring the two-wheeler segment, the automobile sector witnessed a negative sales performance during the first nine months of the current fiscal. The two-wheeler segment showed a better turnover with sales going up by 10 per cent during period.

The total sales of two-wheelers increased to 24,61,903 units in April-December 1998-99 as compared to the sales of 22,40,685 units in the corresponding period of 1997-98. Though the scooters and moped segments recorded three per cent and five per cent growth in sales respectively. While motorcycles sales zoomed to 9,84,509 units in the said period from 8,14,247 units in the corresponding period last year.