Auto companies’ performance mixed; Ford, Skoda make impressive gains

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Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Feb 1: The automobile industry posted a mixed sales performance in the first month of the calendar year, with players like Ford and Skoda posting over 50% sales growth and some like M&M and GM with an almost flat growth.

Passenger car leader Maruti Udyog Ltd posted a 3.2% rise in total sales of 50,109 units in January 2006 against 48,544 units in same month last year. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) clocked a 1% growth in utility vehicle sales to 12,307 units in January 2006.

Ford India has shown a 124% growth in its overall sales during January 2006, thanks to its new Ford Fiesta. Sales during the month went up to 5,173 units from 2,307 units in the corresponding period previous year.

Honda Siel registered a 20% growth in sales during January 2006, selling 4,570 cars against 3,779 sold in January last year.

General Motors India clocked total sales of 2,592 vehicles during January 2006, posting a marginal 0.2% sales growth over January 2005. Skoda Auto India, sold 927 cars in January 2006, registering a 54% growth as compared to 603 units in January last year.

Among the two-wheeler makers, Hero Honda, which sells one in every two motorcycles sold in India, sold 2.49 lakh motorcycles in January 2006, clocking a 8.3% growth over 2.3 lakh vehicles sold in January last year.

Infact, the market leader launched its first scooter, Pleasure last month.

The second largest two-wheeler maker, Bajaj Auto posted a 28% growth in two wheeler sales during January 2006, selling 1.81 lakh vehicles, against 1.42 lakh units, sold in January 2005. In the motorcycle segment, the company witnessed a 32% growth, selling 1.73 lakh units in January 2006. Bajaj will soon launch a new motorcycle in the value segment, according to a company statement. TVS Motor Company Ltd had a 20% growth in two-wheeler sales during January 2006 to touch 1.12 lakh units compared to 94,467 units recorded in the same period previous year.