Indian passenger car sales remained buoyant in October, the ‘festival season’ month in India when many people buy new vehicles.
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Even better for the car makers, the festive season fell 10 days early this year, resulting in higher sales.
Market leader Maruti Udyog – part owned by Suzuki – increased sales by 14.7% to 50,308 vehicles, well up on the 43,650 sold in October 2004 and up 16% on the 46,393 delivered in September.
Deliveries of the top-selling Alto set a new record at 15,558 units, up 57% year on year.
The ancient 800 (it’s based on a Suzuki Alto model generation launched in the early 1980s) continued its downward sales trend in October as sales slipped 22% to 9,087 cars.
In a robust market, Maruti’s competitors Hyundai and Tata also posted growing sales.
Hyundai Motor India boosted October sales 19% to 24,762 while Tata recorded a 5.4% increase in passenger vehicle sales to 17,205.
Players in market segments other than small cars – such as General Motors India and Honda Siel Cars – also reported volume growth.
General Motors sales rose 2.8% to 2,829 vehicles compared to 2,752 units last year. Most were of the locally-made Chevrolet Tavera multi-purpose vehicle and the (GM-Daewoo designed) Optra sedan models with volumes of 1,901 and 652 units respectively.
GM’s January-October sales rose 24% to 26,371 units comprised largely of 15,444 Taveras, 6,260 Optras and 4,620 Opel-designed Corsas.
Honda Siel Cars India reported sales of 2,000 City sedans (a derivative of the Jazz/Fit hatchback) – down somewhat from this year’s monthly average of 3,300 to date.
The fall was due to a model changeover. Honda Siel claims 2,000 advance orders for the updated model and plans to deliver them all by mid-November.
Deepesh Rathore
