Car sales up 23% in December

Domestic passenger car sales grew by 23 per cent in December 2006 at 81,026 units as against 65,853 units in the same month a year ago.

According to figures released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, domestic motorcycle sales during the month stood at 4,92,288 units as against 4,71,075 units in the same month a year ago, up by 4.5 per cent.

Commercial vehicles sales during the month also grew by 49.6 per cent at 41,952 units as against 28,044 units in the corresponding month a year ago.

According to the SIAM figures, the single digit growth experienced by the motorcycle segment in December was mainly on account of market leader Hero Honda Motors dropping sales at 2,37,854 units as against 2,38,822 units in the same month a year ago.

On the other hand, rivals Bajaj Auto had a good year ending at 1,62,441 units as against 1,37,028 units in the previous year, up 18.54 per cent.

The overall two wheeler sales in the domestic market grew by 9.33 per cent at 7,71,630 units as against 7,05,724 units in the corresponding month a year ago.

The commercial vehicles segment witnessed a healthy growth of 49.6 per cent at 41,952 units as against 28,044 units in the corresponding month a year ago on the back of leaders, Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, clocking good numbers.

Tata Motors continued its success story with mini-truck 'Ace' in the light commercial vehicles category, where it witnessed an overall 49.88 per cent at 10,083 units as against 6,727 units in the same month a year ago.

SIAM said for the calendar year 2006, the Indian automobile industry registered a total production of 10.9 million vehicles, up 16.22 per cent from what was achieved in the previous calendar year.

During the year, domestic passenger car sales grew by 20 per cent, utility vehicles 12.4 per cent and multi-purpose vehicles 16.3 per cent, it said.

The overall two wheeler market grew by 15.4 per cent, in which motorcycles had 15.8 per cent increase, while scooters had just 1.5 per cent and moped 5.2 per cent, SIAM said.

Three wheeler sales during the year registered 19.4 per cent with the passenger segment picking up momentum again at 21 per cent. During the year, sales in the commercial vehicles segment grew by 32 per cent SIAM said.