December continued with the festive trend for most carmakers as passenger car sales stayed buoyant.
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India’s largest car maker, Maruti Udyog posted sales of 46,079 cars in December 2005, up 5.1% from 43,828 units a year earlier.
Maruti sold 43,251 cars in the domestic market, up 16.4% on the 37,153 sold in December 2004.
However, exports fell 57.6% to 2,828 units from 6,675 units a year ago due to declining sales of the aging Alto in Europe.
Domestic market growth was due largely to the A2 segment range Alto, Wagon-R, Zen and Swift models whose sales grew 36.6% to 28,367 units.
Demand for the new Swift – launched in mid-2005 – well exceeds supply and the company recently boosted production to shorten the lengthy waiting list.
Tata Motors domestic passenger vehicle sales rose 35.4% to 13,037 in December. The Indica hatchback sold 6,977 units, a year-on-year increase of 40%. The Indigo family, which also includes saloon and estate models, registered sales of 2,753 units last month, up 29% year-on-year. The Sumo UV and Safari SUV accounted for 3,307 units, a growth of 32%.
Hyundai Motors posted a 19% decline last month to 15,973 vehicles compared with the 19,929 sold in December 2004.
“The decline in sales is primarily on account of a high base in December 2004 which came on the back of a popular sales promotion scheme,” the company said.
Skoda Auto India reported a 56% rise in December to 789 units compared with 504 units a year ago. Its Octavia and Superb ranges were recently joined by the Laura (called the new Octavia in other markets).
General Motors India sold 1,603 locally-designed Taveras, 462 GM-Daewoo-designed Chevrolet Optras and 97 units of the Opel Corsa. Tavera sales have grown as the ‘’multi-use vehicle (MUV) has gained a major chunk of the taxi market especially after Toyota axed its rival Qualis.
Optra sales are slowly declining as launches of new rival models lure customers away. Ford has recently launched the new Fiesta saloon and Honda the City ZX and both newcomers are sure to affect Optra sales.
Deepesh Rathore/Tilak Swarup
