Most auto companies see heavy fall in sales

03 January 2009

There has been a sharp fall in automobile sales in December led by a 47-per cent decline in sales compare to the figures of December 2007. Most of its fall came from medium and heavy commercial vehicles which saw a whooping 69 per cent decline over December 2007. 

While LCV sales were 9,245 units, a decline of 29 per cent over December 2007. The economic stimulus package has allowed 50 per cent depreciation for commercial vehicles purchases before the end of the financial year. This would hopefully stimulate demand.

Sales of passenger cars declined by 31 per cent in domestic markets. The Indica range sales at 6,749 units declined by 28.9 per cent. The Indigo range with sales of 1,673 cars, reported a 21 per cent growth over December 2007. The Sumo and Safari SUVs accounted for sales of 1,416, a decline of 58.8 per cent compared to December 2007.

Maruti Suzuki has shown a decline in figures for the third month in a row. Maruti' sales were at 56,293 units, down 10 per cent compared to last December's tally of 62,515 units. The sharpest drop came from Maruti 800 whose sales fell by 59.6 per cent.

General Motors India clocked 4,041 units (6,309) in December, 36 per cent less than it sold during the year-ago period.

However, the company said, on an annual basis, its sales grew by 9.5 per cent in the calendar year 2008 at 65,702 units.