Car sales rise, 2-wheeler sales dip in April '07

New Delhi, May 10: On the back of hardening interest rates, automobile sales in the domestic market and exports grew 11.81 per cent during April with two and three-wheelers posting a decline in sales.

The cumulative sales of passenger vehicles stood at 1,05,962 units as compared to 94,771 units sold in the corresponding month last year, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said today.

The two-wheeler sales fell 5.95 per cent at 5,70,381 as compared to 6,06,495 units. Three-wheelers recorded a fall of 3.95 per cent with 25,545 units sold as against 26,595 units in April 2006.

''Stock correction was also a major reason for low offtake at manufacturer level,'' the automotive industry body said.

Sales of passenger cars grew by 11.26 per cent with 82,934 vehicles this April, against 74,542 units in the correspondng month last year.

Utility vehicles (UVs) and multi purpose vehicles (MPVs) also grew by 11.40 per cent and 21.15 per cent respectively.

The domestic sales of UVs and MPVs during April 2007 were 16,910 and 6,118 respectively, as compared to 15,179 and 5,050 respectively in the corresponding month last year.

Commercial vehicles sales grew by 6.45 per cent at 30,836 units during April 2007 as compared to 28,967 in the corresponding month last year. Light commercial vehicles recorded a growth of 21.38 per cent to 13,175 units during the month from 10,854 last year. However, medium and heavy commercial vehicles recorded a negative growth rate of 2.50 per cent with 17,661 during the month as compared to 18,113 vehicles in April last year.

Automobile exports registered a growth of 19.28 per cent to 90,551 during April 2007 from 75,917 over the same period last year.

Commercial vehicles exports increased by 39.66 per cent with 3,976 units exported this April as compared to 2,847 in the corresponding month last year.

Also, three-wheelers and two-wheelers exports grew at 54.44 per cent and 20.94 per cent respectively.

Three-wheelers' exports stood at 14,326 units this April as compared to 9,276 in April 2006. And Two-wheelers' exports were recorded at 57,991 units as compared to 47,950.

UNI