India's car sales jump 15 per cent in February

09 March 2009

Domestic sale of passenger vehicles in the country recorded a growth of 15.02 per cent in February 2009 compared to February 2008, with all segments except utility vehicles registering positive growth.

Overall production in February 2009 also grew 6.10 per cent over the same month last year. The cumulative production data for April 2008 – February 2009 shows a growth of 2.65 per cent over April 2007 – February 2008.

Passenger vehicle sales registered a growth of 0.28 per cent during April–February 2009 over April–February 2008. Sales of passenger cars and multi purpose vehicles grew 1.35 per cent and 7.01 per cent respectively during the period. However, sales of utility vehicles fell by 7.90 per cent.

In February 2009, commercial vehicle sales fell 31.68 per cent compared to February 2008. Medium and heavy commercial vehicle sales fell 51.33 per cent and LCV sales fell 3.70 per cent. Sales of heavy and medium buses fell 20.69 per cent while sales of smaller buses grew 18.50 per cent.

Sales of commercial vehicles declined 21.08 per cent during April–February 2009 as compared to the same period last year. Sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles declined by 31.70 per cent while sales of light commercial vehicles recorded negative growth of (-) 7.87 per cent.  

In February, three-wheelers sales grew 5.06 per cent over the same month last year. However, three-wheeler sales registered a decline of (-) 5.51 per cent in April 2008 –February 2009.