Maruti August sales rise 11.5 per cent

Total domestic sales for the month increased by 15.7 per cent to 48,259 units from 41,717 units a year ago. Domestic sales for the month have increased 8.08 per cent sequentially from 44,653 units during the previous month.

The premium hatchback segment was once again the best performer, helped by the launch of an upgraded Wagon R model. Sales volumes in the segment, which also includes models like Alto, Zen and Swift, increased 22.2 per cent to 32,466 units for the month as compared to 26,588 during August 2005. Sequentially, sales in this segment have increased 10.71 per cent.

However, sales of entry level model Maruti – 800 continued to decline. Sales for the month at 6,425 units were lower by 9.3 per cent as compared to 7,084 units for August 2005. Sales for the month were 6.37 per cent higher than July 2006.

The company recorded a growth of 17.3 per cent in the passenger van segment and sales of the company's models Omni and Versa increased to 6,335 units as compared to 5,402 units for August 2005.

Sales of mid-sized sedans like the Esteem and Baleno picked up after reporting a decline during the previous month. Sales in this segment increased 14.6 per cent 2,837 units as compared to 2,475 units for August 2005. Sequentially, these models have recorded a growth of 32.2 per cent over July 2006.

Exports continued to show a declining trend, with monthly numbers declining 25 per cent to 3,596 units from 4,792 units.

Maruti's monthly sales figures for August 2006 are:

Segment