Much like car companies, two-wheeler makers also reported healthy growth numbers in February with Bajaj Auto being the only exception since it reported a 17% decline in sales. But despite doing poorly compared with February 2008, Bajaj managed to claw back to the second position in the domestic two-wheeler pecking order - a position it had relinquished to Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) for some months in the current fiscal.

Market leader Hero Honda Motors continued its growth spree, logging 24% growth at 329,055 units (265,431 units) and laying claim to a market share of over 56%. Much of this growth has come from the company’s new launches such as Passion Pro Power Start.

Savio Alva, senior copywriter and Hetal Ajmera, creative director — part of the Young Creatives Team of JWT, Mumbai were adjudged the winners of Advertising Agencies Association of India's (AAAI) national ad contest. Members were invited to send entries on the theme 'Don't drink and drive'.

Ajmera said, "A lot has already been done on the theme of 'Don't drink and drive'. We used another approach. A lot of new cars in the market today have a host of safety features to help you. The point we tried to make, is that none of those features are going to be of use, if you drink and drive."

March quarter, fiscal numbers may match last year's at best

February brought cheer for most car and two-wheeler makers with double digit sales growth. But analysts sounded a word of caution — despite February bounty, cumulative numbers for the March quarter as well as for the fiscal may manage to settle at last year levels at best. In some cases, there could be significant declines, too.

They point out that last February, apprehensions about impending Budget announcements had led people to postpone vehicle purchase but since the full Budget wasn't present in February 2009, there was a corresponding jump in offtake.

Luxury car maker Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) has overtaken its arch rival Mercedes Benz by selling 270 cars and sports utility vehicles (SUV) in the country. The company also launched a luxury SUV, X6 in diesel and petrol model with price tag of Rs 65.9 lakh and Rs 82.9 lakh and hoped to attain supremacy in the luxury car segment in coming times.

Showing recovery for the two successive months, Maruti Suzuki has reported a 24.08% growth in its total sales during the last month (February 2009).

India’s biggest car manufacturer sold 79,190 units during Feb 2009, as against 63,822 units in the corresponding period of the last year (Feb 2008).

After September 2008, the company’s saw drastic fall in its sales for the next three months by 7.1%, 27.4% and 10% respectively.

But, the company's sales grew 5.39% in January 2009.

After a delay of more than six months, Tata Motors has finally decided to launch the much-awaited cheapest family car 'Nano' on March 23 in India.

The Rs 1-lakh car, pegged as the world's cheapest car, will be on display at the company's dealerships from the first week of April. However, bookings for the 'people's car' will begin only in the second week of April.

The car was earlier scheduled to be launched in the first week of October last year, but due to violent protest by farmers led by Trinamool Congress leader Mamta Banerjee, Tata Motors was forced to quit from the state and relocate the plant to Sanand in Gujarat.