Maruti sales hit,mixed results for other auto firms in August

Car sales fell by more than 12 per cent during the month of August largely on account of a 35 per cent dip in the domestic sales of the market leader Maruti Suzuki

Car sales fell by more than 12 per cent during the month of August largely on account of a 35 per cent dip in the domestic sales of the market leader Maruti Suzuki MSI.

While high interest rates and weak economic sentiment continued to deter buyers,it was the lockout of Marutis Manesar plant which heavily impacted the market. MSI reported a sharp 40.8 per cent decline in total sales for August 54,154 units as against 91,442 units in the same month last year.

MSIs domestic sales during the month stood at 50,129 units,compared to 77,086 units in August last year,down 35 per cent.

The countrys second-largest car maker Hyundai Motor India HMIL reported an 8 per cent decline in total sales at 46,886 units in August. It had sold 51,012 units in the corresponding month last year. However,in the domestic market,HMIL recorded sales of 28,257 units compared to 26,677 units in the year-ago period,registering a growth of 5.9 per cent. Exports declined by 23.4 per cent to 18,629 units from 24,335 units in August last year.

General Motors India,too,tumbled with a 17 per cent decline in sales for August at 7,510 units. The company had sold 9,050 units in August 2011. The trend for Honda Siel Cars India HSCI was with a 20.80 per cent dip in its sales for August at 5,470 units.

However,a few auto companies registered impressive growth in sales for the month of August.

Tata Motors reported a 12 per cent growth in total sales at 71,826 units for the month over August 2011. Its passenger vehicle sales shot up 33 per cent to 22,311 units,a clear impact of the surge in the sales of Nano,which stood at 6,507 units.

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Mahindra amp; Mahindra,had an impressive showing as it reported a 21.74 per cent increase in sales at 45,836 units for August against 37,684 units in the same month last year. The companys domestic sales stood at 42,826 unit up 19.77 per cent. The passenger vehicles segment registered 39.37 per cent increase at 21,831 units against 15,664 units in the year-ago month for the company.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor TKM reported a 19.83 per cent increase in sales at 13,995 units during August as against 11,679 units in the same month last year.

Ford India also posted an increase in sales up 16.1 per cent increase at 10,352 units in August this year. Fords domestic sales went up by 6.2 per cent to 7,840 units.

The countrys largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp reported a dip of 11.88 per cent in sales at 4,43,801 units in August.

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Honda Motorcycle amp; Scooter India reported 38.65 per cent growth in total sales for August at 2,22,768 units.

TVS Motor Company reported 20.6 per cent dip in overall sales,while Suzuki Motorcycle India reported a 35.77 per cent increase in sales in August. FE