Auto sector sales rise in January

Auto sector sales rise in JanuaryThe auto sector in the country recorded a growth in sales as demand in the domestic sector and exports rose in the month. Auto makers, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motors, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, General Motors and Fiat recorded higher sales in the month.

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd sold 95,649 vehicles during the month against 71,779 in January 2009. This included 14,562 units of exports for the company.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd recorded a growth of 40.8% in domestic sales and 42.6% increase in exports and sold 52,635 vehicles as against 37,171 vehicles in January 2009. Hyundai expects the growth momentum to continue in the year.

The total sales of the commercial and passenger vehicles major Tata Motors rose 77% to 65,478 units for the month of January 2010 against 36,931 units in the same month previous year. The domestic sales of the company grew 74% to at 62,202 units and exports were at 3,276 units against 1,227 units on year on year basis.

The company sold 4,001 units of its affordable car Nano while the sales of other passenger cars rose 43% to 28,547 units. In the commercial vehicle segment the company sold 35,957 units against 17,373 units in January 2009.

General Motors India sales rose 139% to 9,421 units as against 3,937 units in January 2009. The result is the strongest so far on monthly basis.

Mahindra and Mahindra reported a growth of 71% in sales to 30,149 units in the month. The country's largest tractor maker sold 15,925 tractors versus 9,438 units in January
2009. The company also increased the price of each vehicle by Rs 5,000-10,000 in the month.

Two-wheeler major TVS Motor Company sold 1,25,578 units against 93,729 units in the corresponding period of the previous year. Sales grew 12% during April 2009 to January 2010 to 1,234,632 units against 1,100,453 units in the comparable period of the previous year.

Hero Honda, another player in the two wheeler market, sold 3.89 lakh units in January 2010 versus 3.15 lakh units in January 2009. The company is planning to launch three new models in the next two months.

India Yamaha Motor too sold more units at 17,598 units against 18,320 units in January 2009.