The festive season failed to provide the respite the passenger car makers were hoping for. After two months of positive growth, passenger vehicle sales hit negative growth lane in October, while the utility vehicle (UV) segment reported positive growth after recording a drop in volumes for three months. Two-wheelers continued their positive momentum, while all other segments were in the negative growth curve.
Car sales were down 3.88 per cent at 163,199 units in October when compared with 169,788 units in October 2012. However, sales, highest monthly number so far in the current fiscal, were higher when compared with September 2013 volumes of 156,018 units, according to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (SIAM).
Driven by new models, UV sales saw a rise of 7 per cent at 57,020 units in October against 53,285 units in the same month last year.
The good momentum started in August for two-wheelers continued in October too as overall sales were up 18 per cent at 15,16,291 units against 12,85,015 in the same month of the previous year.
However, economic slowdown and slump in industrial activity continue to haunt the commercial vehicle industry as sales declined by 20 per cent to 53,533 units from 66,722 units. During the first seven months ended October 30, 2013, sales of passenger vehicles (PV) fell by 5 per cent to 14,40,405 units over the same period last year. Cars and utility vehicles sales fell by 4.5 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively, while vans saw a 10 per cent drop in sales when compared with the year-ago period.
Total commercial vehicle sales dropped by 16 per cent.
Two-wheeler sales saw a rise of 6 per cent at 85,33,262 units during the seven month period.
Three-wheeler sales declined by 5 per cent in April-October when compared with the year ago period. Passenger and goods segments registered a fall of 6 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively.
