Despite high oil prices and inflation, the automobile industry managed to witness a positive growth, though at a much slower rate. While market leader Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) witnessed a growth of 0.7% in domestic sales for June at 56,411 units as compared to 56,000 units during the same month last year, the country?s second largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) witnessed a growth of 34% in the domestic market at 22,881 units during June 08 vis-?-vis 16,335 units in June 2007 on the back of its latest launch i10.
However, for the first time in several months, General Motor India posted a dip of 1.93% at 4,687 units last month as compared to 4,779 units in June 2007.
For MSIL, the entry-level or the A2 segment cars, that includes Alto, Zen Estillo, Wagon R and Swift restricted the overall growth with the segment witnessing a flat growth of 0.3% at 37,767 units, against 37,646 units in June last year. Even worse was the performance of M800 that recorded a 13.73% decline at 5,361 units in June, as compared to 6,214 units during the corresponding month last year despite the launch of its LPG variant.
However, the newly launched Swift Dzire helped the auto major post 48% increase in sales in the A3 segment at 5,807 units against 3,923 units in June 2007.
The company?s export went up from 3,917 units in June last year to 4,836 units last month, a growth of 23.5%.
Riding on the demand for i10, HMIL sold 33,859 units of hatchbacks Santro, Getz and i10, 6,272 units of Accent and Verna, 47 units of Sonata Embera and four units of its SUV Tucson in June. The company?s export grew by 61.7% to 18,301 units as against 11,318 units in June 2007.
The recently launched Fabia helped SkodaIndia to register a growth of 69% in sales at 1,704 units as compared to 1,008 units in June 2007. Sales of Honda Siel Car India also went up by 5.4% to 4,748 units as compared to 4,503 units during the same month last year, thanks to its newly launched Honda Accord.
However, auto major Mahindra & Mahindra witnessed a dip of 2.43% in sales of utility vehicles and Logan at 12,662 units as compared to 12,977 units during June 07.
Even two-wheeler majors ended the month on a high note with the country?s leading player Hero Honda MotorsLtd (HHML) witnessing a growth of 16% at 2,95,675 units as compared to 2,55,200 units in June 2007 due to the company?s increased focus on semi-urban, rural and the upcountry markets.
Sales of Bajaj Auto went up by 7% to 1,77,112 units as compared to 1,65,236 units in June 2007. Exports grew by 33% to 1,98,717 units as against 1,49,804 unit in June last year.
TVS Motors? posted a growth of 2% in June at 1,09,082 units as against 1,07,177 units during the same month last year. Exports went up by 64% to 15,010 units vis-a-vis 9,133 units in June 2007.