Domestic automobile sales up 10.76 percent

Monday, 11 May 2009, 21:36 IST
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New Delhi:Automobile sales in the country grew nearly 11 percent in April over the corresponding month the previous year largely due to a handsome growth registered by two-wheeler sales, a leading industry body said Monday. "In April production grew at 10.19 percent and domestic sales by 10.76 percent. This was mainly because of good performance of the two-wheeler segment," said Sugato Sen, senior director at Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). Domestic car sales grew 4.2 percent in April to 102,899 units from 98,752 units in the corresponding month the previous year. Two-wheeler sales rose 13.71 percent to 700,995 units in April, compared to 616,468 vehicles sold the same month in 2008. The number of three-wheelers passenger vehicles sold grew 10.62 percent, compared to a 21.2 percent decline in sales of goods carriers. In the two-wheeler category, motorcycle sales rose over 12.11 percent to 562,357 vehicles from 501,592 in the year-ago period. Moped and scooter sales were up 24 percent and nearly 20 percent respectively during the month under review. However, sales of commercial vehicles dipped over 11 percent to 29,842 vehicles in April from 33,626 a year ago, and medium and heavy commercial vehicles witnessed a sharp fall of about 42 percent. Light commercial vehicles, however, recorded a growth of a little over 28 percent. Total auto exports dipped 10 percent in April 2009 with commercial vehicles and two-wheelers segment logging 36 percent and 22 percent lower sales respectively. Passenger vehicles exports, however, grew 33.99 percent, while three-wheeler segment registered a 1.74 percent rise in overseas sales.
Source: IANS