After Oct record, auto sales growth in Nov down at 17.81 pc

According to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the total number of vehicles sold in the country stood at 12,21,981 units in November this year as against 10,37,232 units in the same month last year.

"The automobiles sales growth in November was slower than September and October, and the actual volume was also lower", SIAM Senior Director Sugato Sen told reporters.
"The main reason for this was that the build up to the festive season that gave additional volumes has tapered off," he said.

According to Sen, the industry body expects even lower sales in December as compared to November.Domestic passenger car sales jumped by 20.79 per cent to 1,61,497 units in November, compared to 1,33,703 units in the same month last year.

As per the figures released by the SIAM today, motorcycle sales in the country during the month grew by 15.61 per cent to 7,10,182 units from 6,14,274 units in the same month last year.

Total two-wheeler sales in November increased by 17.68 per cent to 9,30,370 units from 7,90,613 units in November 2009.

Sugato Sen maintained that the fundamentals such as rate of interest, availability of liquidity and products were still favourable for a good growth.

"Demand will finally settle down to around 25 per cent at the end of fiscal for the passenger vehicles," he said, adding the industry was hoping to end the fiscal year at an overall growth between 25 and 30 per cent.Sales of commercial vehicles jumped by 18.26 per cent to 48,314 units from 40,855 units in the year-ago period, SIAM said.

Auto sales had broken record for the fourth consecutive month in October with total vehicles sold at 14,60,655 units, which was better than the mark set in September this year.

During November, the country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India posted domestic sales of 87,618 units, up 29.25 per cent from 67,786 units same month last year, SIAM said.

Hyundai Motor India had sales of 31,501 units, up 11.86 per cent from November last year while Tata Motors' sales dipped by 33.79 per cent to 12,234 units. In the motorcycles segment, market leader Hero Honda witnessed a growth of 6.95 per cent at 3,82,138 units, as compared to the same month last year, SIAM said.

Rival Bajaj Auto gained at 1,93,174 units, up 18.67 per cent from the corresponding month last year. TVS Motor Co had a sales of 49,534 units, up 50.34 per cent from the same month last year.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) saw its bike sales going up by 40 per cent to 51,171 units as compared to same month last year.

According to the SIAM data, scooters segment grew by 30.72 per cent to 1,65,614 units during November compared to 1,26,686 units in the same period last year. The growth was led by HMSI, with sales of 68,278 units. The company had sold 68,272 units in the same month last year.

TVS Motor's scooter sales were at 35,433 units, a rise of 46.19 per cent, while that of Hero Honda were at 27,168 units, an increase of 70.97 per cent from  November last year.

The commercial vehicles segment carried forward the upward trend that began in July 2009, with sales in November going up by 18.17 per cent to 48,314 units from 40,885 units in the year-ago period, according to the latest SIAM data.

Light commercial vehicle sales rose by 22.67 per cent in November to 26,359 units from 21,486 units. Medium and heavy commercial vehicle sales surged by 13.35 per cent to 21,955 units compared to 19,369 units in the same month last year.Three-wheeler sales during November were up 3.58 per cent to 40,420 units compared to 39,020 units, SIAM added.