The Hindu Business Line : Car sales up 32% in April

A total of 56,272 units were sold in April 2004 over 42,499 units in the same month last year, data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed.

Car sales have been growing briskly due to the availability of low-interest loans, and the launches of newer models in the market.

Both Maruti Udyog and Tata Motors saw a sizeable increase in sales in the month, growing at 48.4 per cent and 52.6 per cent respectively.

Sales of Hyundai Motor India though declined by about 37.3 per cent in the month, as the company's plant was shut for more than a week for maintenance work during the month.

Two-wheeler sales grew by about 16.4 per cent to 4.41 lakh units during April, as sales of motorcycles and step-throughs posted a rise of 14.5 per cent to 3.48 lakh units.

In the motorcycle and step-through category, India's biggest motorcycle maker Hero Honda posted a hefty 46 per cent rise at 1.92 lakh units while its nearest rival Bajaj Auto registered a rise of 22.5 per cent at 83,200 units.

Scooter and scooterette sales registered a hefty growth of 28.3 per cent at 71,306 units during April, led largely by growing sales of Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India (HMSI) and TVS.

Commercial vehicle sales went up by an impressive 66.8 per cent at 19,784 units in the review month over 11,855 units in April 2003.

Within the segment, sales of medium and heavy (M&H) buses and trucks went up by 79.3 per cent at 12,036 units. While M&H truck sales grew by 88.6 per cent to 10,573 units, sales of M&H buses went up by 32.2 per cent at 1,463 units.