Nov car sales up 16%, bike sales dip 3%

Festival season purchases made the domestic car sales maintain double-digit growth momentum at 16.42 per cent in November, although motorcycles continued the downhill ride posting a decline of 2.89 per cent.

According to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, passenger car sales in the country in November stood at 1,03,031 units, against 88,501 units in the same month last year.

Motorcycle sales, which has been on a decline all through this year, was down at 5,40,553 units during the month, compared to 5,56,612 units in the corresponding month of the previous year.

Total two-wheeler sales in November also slipped by 2.07 per cent at 6,65,181 units, against 6,79,215 units in the same month a year ago.

According to industry analysts, while the car segment benefited from the festival season buys, the two-wheelers, specially motorcycles, failed to pick up sales due to unavailability of credit finance.

Scooter continued its comeback trail posting a marginal growth at 89,078 units, against 88,831 units in November 2006.

Commercial vehicle sales during the month rose marginally by 0.38 per cent at 40,466 units, against 40,313 units for the corresponding period last year, SIAM said.

Leading the car growth pack in the month was the country's largest manufacturer Maruti Suzuki which posted 27.37 per cent growth at 57,554 units, against 45,183

units.

Rival Hyundai Motors India also posted a growth of 15.47 per cent at 19,041 units, compared to 16,490 units in 2006.

Tata Motors, however, posted a decline of 21.39 per cent at 12,502 units, against 15,904 units in the same month last year, SIAM said.

In the motorcycles category, market leader Hero Honda Motors posted a growth of 3.47 per cent at 2,71,251 units, against 2,62,143 units last year.

Arch rival Bajaj Auto, however, was down by 8.97 per cent at 1,74,936 compared to 1,92,182 units last year. TVS Motor Co sales dropped by 22.46 per cent at 48,345 units in November compared to 62,350 units in the same month last year.

In the three-wheeler category, total domestic sales were down by 12.48 per cent at 30,124 units, against 34,419 units.

According to the SIAM figure, total commercial vehicles sales were up mainly because of growth in light commercial vehicles category, which was up 5.47 per cent at 18,405 units, against 17,451 units in 2006.

Medium and Heavy Commercial vehicle sales were down by 3.50 per cent at 22,061 units, compared to 22,862 units.