Indian passenger car sales remained buoyant in October, the ‘festival season’ month in India when many people buy new vehicles.
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.
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By GlobalDataIn 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