Leading auto makers register impressive sales rise

New Delhi, June 1 (UNI) Car makers including Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL), Hyundai Motors and General Motors reported impressive rise in sales growth ranging between 15 per cent to 45 per cent in May this year with the market leader MUL mantaining lead over its rivals.

Though General Motors' Chevrolet series and Skoda Auto's Octavia had low base, these two auto majors recorded an impressive growth of 39 per cent and over 46 per cent in may this year.

The two wheelers segment has also done well with Bajaj auto registering a 25 per cent growth in May. The company sold 2,23,455 units last month against 1,78,645 units in the same period in 2005.

Having sold 50,904 vehicles, MUL achieved a growth of 27 per cent at 50,904 vehicles in May as compared to 40,006 vehicles in the corresponding period last year.

The company in all, sold 53,396 vehicles in the month, including 2,492 units of exports.

Maruti's volume in the domestic A2 segment constituting Alto, WagonR, Zen and Swift grew by 38.56 per cent.

The A3 segment comprising models like Baleno, Esteem and the A1 segments with M800, Omni and Versa recorded growth by 9.93 per cent and 10.25 per cent respectively during the month as compared to sales in May 2005 The sales of Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMI)for the period May 2006 stood at 25,883 vehicles, comprising 16,102 units in the domestic market and 9,781 units in the overseas market.

The domestic sales of the company achieved a growth of 15 per cent and its exports grew by 6.2 per cent over May 2005.

HMIL's flagship brand Santro, sold 12,475 units in the domestic market growing by 33 per cent corresponding to last year's monthly sales over the same period.

The segment wise cumulative sales during the period was 22,000 units in A2 segment, 3,540 units in A3 segment, 264 units in A4 segment, 39 units in A5 segment and 40 units in SUV segment, a release said here today.

General motors sold 3478 vehicles during May 2006 comprising 1625 units of Chevrolet Tavera, 403 units of Chevrolet Optra and 1450 units of Chevrolet Aveo.

Meanwhile the motorcycles sales during the month rose by 27 per cent at 1,96,120 units as compared to 1,53,975 units last May.

The three wheelers sales for the period were up by 51 per cent at 24,029 units against 15,892 units in the same period last year.

Bajaj's exports increased by 107 per cent at 32,179 units in May as compared to 15,540 units in the corresponding period last year.

UNI SBJ MP ND1944