Auto makers report encouraging growth in April

02 May 2009

The automobile industry seems to be on the road to a recovery in fiscal 2009-10, with all carmakers except the Renault arm of Mahindra & Mahindra posting a growth in sales in April when compared to the previous year. Leading their respective segments were market leader Maruti Suzuki and biggest two-wheeler maker Hero Honda, which both posted sizeable sales growth.

Continuing to benefit from the government's stimulus packages announced in December 2008 and January this year, Hyundai Motor, Honda Siel Cars, Mahindra & Mahindra, TVS and India Yamaha Motor also saw a robust rise in their sales in April.

Maruti Suzuki India reported a 15.09 per cent increase in sales in April at 71,748 vehicles against 62,336 units in the same month last year. This is the fourth consecutive month that the company's sales crossed the 70,000 units mark. Domestic sales grew by 8.93 per cent to 64,857 units against 59,539 units in April last year, while exports surged by over two-fold to 6,891 units against 2,797 units last year.

The country's second largest carmaker, Hyundai Motor India, also saw its sales going upwards by 10.9 per cent to 44,371 units against 40,000 units in the same month last year. The domestic market accounted for 22,247 units while exports totalled at 22,124 registering almost 20 per cent growth.

However, Maruti's total sales slipped from the peak of 77,955 units it clocked in March; while Hyundai sold close to 4,000 additional units in April when compared to March.

The A2 segment of Maruti that comprises the Alto, Wagon R, Zen, Swift and A-Star, saw a nine per cent rise in sales to 46,817 units. Hyundai's A2 segment, comprising the i10, Santro, Getz and i20, clocked 41,258 units.