General Motors India has reported an increase of 6.74 per cent in December 2011 sales at 9,039 units against 8,468 units sold in the same month of the previous year.

In December, the company had sold 1,365 Spark hatchbacks, 486 Cruze sedans and 4,796 units of its latest compact car offering Beat, it said in a statement.

GM India also sold 191 units of entry-level sedan Aveo, 227 units of mid-sized sedan Optra, 1,927 units of multi-utility vehicle Tavera and 47 units of its Captiva SUV.

“We have been able to sustain the growth primarily due to the encouraging response to Chevrolet Beat. Other carlines like Spark, Cruze and Tavera have also generated substantial volumes for the company,” GM India Vice-President, Mr P. Balendran, said.

In the 2011 calendar year, GM India sold a total of 1,11,510 units compared with 1,10,804 units a year ago.

However, unprecedented hikes in interest rates, fuel prices, commodity prices, growing inflation and policy paralysis at the centre have led to negative sentiments in the automobile market, he added.

“We expect the market to remain tight for at least a couple of months to come,” Mr Balendran said.

comment COMMENT NOW