Auto sales beat monsoon blues; Maruti posts record numbers

New Delhi, Sep 1 (PTI) Increasing spending power and
excitement created by model launches helped major automakers
report robust growth in August sales Wednesday with
Indian market leader Maruti Suzuki witnessing best ever
monthly dispatches.

Automobile sales, which are usually down in the rainy
season, continued to cruise with major firms, including
Hyundai, Tata Motors and Hero Honda posting healthy sales in
August, due to increased consumer confidence on the booming
economy.
During the month, Maruti Suzuki posted its highest ever
monthly sales at 1,04,791 units, a 23.56 per cent increase
from 84,808 units in August 2009.
The company also posted its best figure so far for the
domestic market at 92,674 units, a 32.47 per cent increase
from 69,961 units in August 2009.
"With economic activities going strong, consumers'
spending powers have increased. It has helped boosting auto
sales," IDFC Securities Director (Research) Ramnath S told
PTI.
New models by the companies have also created excitement
in the market and many of these have witnessed long-waiting
periods for delivery, he added.
The country's second largest carmaker Hyundai Motor India
also reported 17.21 per cent jump in its domestic sales at
28,601 units as against 24,401 units in August 2009.
Commenting on the sales, Hyundai Motor India Director
(Marketing and Sales) Arvind Saxena said the market continues
to be positive and the company expects the trend to continue
with the onset of the festive season.
Homegrown auto major Tata Motors reported a 45.10 per
cent increase in its domestic passenger vehicle sales at
25,196 units compared to 17,364 units in the year-ago month.
Another manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra's sales in
domestic market jumped by 27.39 per cent last month at 27,275
units as against 21,410 units in the same month last year.
Carmaker General Motors India saw its sales climbing
33.71 per cent to 7,941 units in August compared to 5,939
units in the same month last year. Honda Siel Cars' sales
stood at 5,532 units, registering 38.75 per cent jump over
3,987 units in the corresponding month last year.
Another auto maker Toyota Kirloskar Motor reported 26.09
per cent jump in its sales at 6,361 units compared to 5,045
units in the corresponding month last year.
Ramnath said the growth momentum is expected to continue
in future up to the festive season.
"There is a spill-over of demand... The festive season
will be very good this time," he added.


On the two-wheelers front, market leader Hero Honda
reported a jump of 2.28 per cent in its sales at 4,24,617
units in August 2010 against 4,15,137 units in the same month
last year. It was the 4th consecutive time, the company
posted over four lakh dispatch sales in a single month.
Chennai-based TVS Motor Company's two-wheeler sales in
last month grew 31.75 per cent to 1,67,109 units from 1,26,842
units in August 2009.
Another two-wheeler maker India Yamaha Motor reported
29.76 per cent increase in its total sales at 30,450 units. It
had sold 23,466 units in the same month last year. Suzuki
Motorcycle India's sales jumped 50.78 per cent to 19,314 units
from 12,809 units in August last year. PTI TR
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