Apr
16
2009
Big auto companies posted positive car sales in January, reviving hopes of an upturn in demand, as increased customer interest drove higher footfalls at car dealerships.
Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India achieved its highest-ever domestic and total sales in January this year. Maruti’s dispatches to domestic dealers increased 5.6% to 67,005 units during the month. Its last biggest dispatch of 65,216 cars took place way back in November 2007. Maruti posted retail sales of 76,700 vehicles in December, its highest ever, clearing the stocks piled up at dealerships.
Most car companies reported positive sales despite the withdrawal of price rebate schemes.
Utility vehicle company Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) made the most of new launches.
While its sales dropped to 17,320 vehicles in January this year from 20,884 vehicles in the same month last year, the decline was cushioned by the performance of recently launched multi-activity vehicle Xylo.
With sales of 1,788 vehicles within two weeks and bookings crossing the 4000-mark, M&M is ramping up its production. Including exports, M&M sold 17611 vehicles in January, down from 22309 units in the same month last year.
South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor India reported a 13.5% decline in domestic sales to 21,016 vehicles in January, against 24,301 vehicles for the same month last year. But its exports were up 21% to 16,200 vehicles, against 13,399 units in the year-ago period.
Tata Motors continued its negative run, with its passenger vehicle portfolio declining by 9% to 18,331 vehicles in January from 20,119 vehicles sold in January last year. However, on a month-on-month sequential basis, the sales increased 68% in January.