Car sales continue to slow down in June; bikes grow

New Delhi (PTI) - Car sales in the domestic market
continued to slow down with two of the top three firms, Maruti
Suzuki India and Tata Motors, reporting decline in sales
during June this year.
The second largest carmaker Hyundai Motor India Ltd
(HMIL), however, posted increase in sales along with
Volkswagen, Toyota and Mahindra & Mahindra.
Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) reported 3.8 per cent decline
in sales in the domestic market to 70,020 units in June from
72,812 units in the same month last year.
During the month, the company suffered a 13-day long
strike at its Manesar plant, where it mainly produces Swift,
DZiRE and SX4. The firm suffered a production loss of 12,600
units due to the strike.
Tata Motors also reported 20.91 per cent decline its
domestic total passenger vehicles sales at 21,993 units in
June as against 27,811 units in the same month last year.
On the other hand, HMIL said its domestic sales grew 11.1
per cent to 30,402 units in June this year from 27,366 units
in same month last year.
Commenting on the sales, HMIL Director (Marketing
and
Sales) Arvind Saxena said: "The market continued to be slow
but Hyundai sales have grown partially due to the success of
New Verna. We have received over 21,000 customer bookings for
the New Verna so far and we are trying to fulfil the demand."
Last fiscal, cars sales in India had grown by 29.73 per
cent but started slowing down this financial year due to fuel
price hikes, rising interest rates and increased product cost.
Yet, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) reported 94.72 per cent
jump in its sales at 12,034 units during June this year as
against 6,180 units in the same month last year.
"The growth in sales is a clear indication of customer's
confidence in Toyota products. We have increased Etios
production as a result of which its waiting period has now
come down to 15-20 days," TKM Deputy Managing Director
(Marketing) Sandeep Singh said.
Volkswagen India also reported 166 per cent increase in
sales during the month at 5,397 units as against 2,032 units
in the corresponding period last year.
Mahindra & Mahindra registered a rise of 28.69 per cent
at 33,772 units as compared to 26,243 units in the same month
last year.
Skoda Auto India also reported a 69 per cent increase in
sales to 2,611 units in June this year, as against 1,639 units
in the year-ago month.
Ford India reported 8.44 per cent increase in its sales
during the month at 9,145 units as compared to 8,433 units in
June last year.
Another firm to report declining sales was Honda Siel
Cars India at 3,455 units, a decline of 24.81 per cent over
the same period last year. The company had sold 4,595 units in
June 2010.
Meanwhile, the country's largest two-wheeler maker Hero
Honda reported 20.12 per cent jump at 5,12,244 units, compared
to 4,26,454 units in June last year.
"It has been a record-breaking first quarter of FY'12 for
us. With sales of five lakh-plus units in every month of the
quarter and record 1.5 million units' total sales in the
quarter, we have once again set new benchmarks for ourselves,"
Hero Honda Motors Senior Vice-President (Marketing and Sales)
Anil Dua said.
Chennai-based TVS Motor Co said its total two-wheeler
sales grew by 14 per cent to 1,78,633
units in June 2011, in
comparison to 1,56,685 units in June 2010.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India reported 2.03 per cent
growth in sales at 1,48,937 units last month as against
1,45,973 units in the corresponding month of 2010.
India Yamaha Motor said its sales grew 29.98 per cent in
June at 36,595 units, while Mahindra & Mahindra said its two-
wheeler sales grew 16 per cent at 11,748 units.