Two-wheeler sale dips 11% in August, car sales up 18%

New Delhi, Sep 11 (UNI) The auto industry continued to witness sluggish sales in August with two-wheeler motorcycle sale falling by 11 per cent to 4,18,702 units from 4,70,955 during the same period last year.

However, passenger car sales increased 18 per cent to 98,893 units in August from 83,864 in the same month a year earlier as new models and discounts helped lure buyers in a market battling high interest rates and fierce competition, according to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Sales of commercial vehicles was at 36,409 units in August, up 3.23 per cent from 35,268 in the corresponding month a year earlier, SIAM said.

Country's largest car maker Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) sales jumped by 25 per cent to 52,055, buoyed by the introduction of the SX4 sedan and the diesel-powered Swift hatchback.

Sales of General Motors India, which started selling the Chevrolet Spark this year, gained more than four-fold to 4,270.

Eight of the 13 carmakers in India, including BMW and Renault, posted gains in August.

The sale of passenger vehicles increased 17 per cent to 1,25,656 units as against 1,07,246 units in August 2006, while sales of medium and heavy commercal vehicles declined by eight per cent at 19,431 units in comparison to 21,110 units during August 2006.

The three-wheeler market registered a decline of three per cent at 33,588 units as against 34,691 units during the same period last year.

Cumulative car sales in India rose 13.6 per cent to 5,90,653 units during April-August, SIAM said.

Country's largest two-wheeler maker Hero Honda Motors registered 10.65 per cent increase in its sales in August to 2,21,541 units on new launches, while Bajaj Auto Ltd sales fell 23.4 per cent to 1,21,369 units from 1,58,636 units during the same period a year ago.

The scooters and scooterettes segment grew 26 per cent to 91,158 units as against 72,391 units during the same period last year.

TVS Motor took the biggest hit in the motorcycles segment, recording 51.4 per cent decline in its sales in comparison to 74,426 units sold in August 2006.

Motorcycle exports, however, jumped 53.7 per cent to 72,119 units in August as against 46,916 units during the same period a year ago.

Total two wheller exports surged 28 per cent to 1,11,591 units.

UNI