Car sales zoom in lean period

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

Related Articles

India, China to propel Honda growthM&M set to roll out bikes in 2010VW pitches for 10% market share by ’14Skoda to realign products in India

New Delhi, Oct 1: This could be a shift in the mindset of car buyers in the country. Despite 15 days of shraadh period, which is traditionally a lean period for car manufacturers, major car sellers in the country witnessed a growth in sales in September, thanks to a slew of discounts and offers.

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger car manufacturer with a market share of around 50%, registered a growth of 2.5% in September at 64,682 units as compared with 63,086 units during the corresponding month last year. The company was offering additional discounts of Rs 17,000 on SX4, Rs 5,000 on M800 and Alto, Wagon R, Estilo and Rs 4,500 on Swift (petrol version).

Similarly, Hyundai Motor India, the second largest player in the segment with a market share of 23%, witnessed a jump of 23.89% in sales in the domestic market at 22,311 units last month as against 18,009 units in September last year.

“Despite being there for almost a year now, demand for i10 has been growing. Consequently, Hyundai had to prepone its third shift operations at its second plant by a month instead of October as scheduled earlier,” said Arvind Saxena, senior vice-president (marketing and sales), HMIL. As part of its tenth anniversary, the company was offering a free gold coin with its entire range (except i10 AT and Getz 1.5L CRDi) and an MP3 player with the Verna sedan range as well as Getz.

Even SkodaIndia and Mahindra and Mahindra witnessed a jump in sales last month. While sales of SkodaIndia went up by 34.8% at 1,213 units as against 900 units in September last year, M&M posted an overall growth of 31.7% at 24481 units, as against 18593 units in September 2007.

However, General Motors India sales dipped by 10.4% at 5,154 units as compared to 5,751 units during September 2007, despite the company’s second plant going operational in the first week of September as well as the launch of new Tavera.

“Car makers have become more aggressive in offers, especially during lean periods like lat month, to attract customers. Some even resort to ways like ‘Book now and take delivery later’ so that customers do not postpone their purchase for the festive season,” said an industry expert.

Passenger vehicles sales of Tata Motors’ was down by 2.5% in September at 16,586 units vis-à-vis September last year.