Recording an eight straight rise, domestic car sales grew 21% in September at 1.29 lakh units as against 1.07 lakh units in the same month last year, figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) said. Thirteen of the 16 car carmakers saw sales going up in September, the exceptions being Mahindra Renault, Mercedes Benz and Toyota Kirloskar.
In the first half of the financial year, local car sales have increased 14.8% to 689,339 vehicles. In August, car sales were up 26%, while July saw a 31% jump. The resurgence in demand has been led by government's stimulus packages, including tax cuts, apart from lowering of interest rates by banks who till last year were hawkish in extending loans, which were also expensive.
Maruti Suzuki India
India's biggest carmaker posted a 12% sales increase in passenger car sales to 71,368 units compared with 63,917 units in 2008.
Sales of the company's once bread-and-butter model M800 declined by 7.5% at 3,207 units compared to 3,467 units in September 2008, while the A2 segment (comprising Alto, Wagon R, Estilo, Swift, A-Star and Ritz) witnessed growth of 15.1% at 52,508 units compared to 45,621 units in the same month a year ago, the company said in a press release.
The A3 segment sales (consisting of SX4 and DZiRE) decreased 0.8% to 7,356 units compared to 7,413 units in the corresponding period last year, the company said. The production of its mid-sized Sedan SX4 was halted during the month for a change over to an upgraded version.
Sales of the company's once bread-and-butter model M800 declined by 7.5% at 3,207 units compared to 3,467 units in September 2008, while the A2 segment (comprising Alto, Wagon R, Estilo, Swift, A-Star and Ritz) witnessed growth of 15.1% at 52,508 units compared to 45,621 units in the same month a year ago, the company said in a press release.
The A3 segment sales (consisting of SX4 and DZiRE) decreased 0.8% to 7,356 units compared to 7,413 units in the corresponding period last year, the company said. The production of its mid-sized Sedan SX4 was halted during the month for a change over to an upgraded version.
