The Hindu Business Line : Truck sales dip 65% in Jan

Mumbai, Feb. 4 Even as car sales have shown signs of revival in January, truck sales plunged 65 per cent to 9,258 units against 26,564 units in the same period last year, as truckers were unable to expand their fleet due to deepening economic slowdown.

Truck sales have dropped despite lowering of auto finance rates by banks, said Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training (IFTRT).

Leading heavy commercial vehicles manufacturers include Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Mahindra and Mahindra, Swaraj Mazda, Volvo and Eicher.

Tractor trailer (30-49 tonne) — used mainly to transport high density cargo such as cement, foodgrains, pulses, fertiliser, timber, ores and steel —witnessed a huge drop of 88 per cent to 279 units against 2,320 units sold in the same period last year.

Sales of multi-axle vehicles (25.2-31 tonne), which are used for transporting general goods and construction projects, sunk 77 per cent to 2,814 units from 12,057 units. Tipper trucks sales were down as majority of housing and other construction projects have virtually come to a halt, said Mr S. P. Singh, Senior Fellow and Coordinator, IFTRT.

Medium commercial vehicle (15-16.2 tonne) sales dipped 48 per cent to 3,026 units against 5,818 units last year. MCVs are mostly used on hilly terrains and narrow highways to carry general mixed and parcel cargo.

Hit by the slowdown in infrastructure projects, tipper trucks ( 16.2-25.2 tonne) used in the construction and infrastructure sectors saw sales dropping 53 per cent to 2,537 units (5,368 units).

Continuing its downtrend, light commercial vehicle sales dropped 32 per cent to 1,746 (2603 units).

IFTRT is an independent body that analyses the factors impacting the sales of trucks and goods carriages.

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