Domestic car sales continued to increase for the third consecutive month according to the data provided by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Car sales jumped 4.20 per cent in April with the sale of 1,02,899 units as compared to 98,752 units in the same period last year.

However, it may take some time to revive demand across the automobile sector, the worst hit segment due to global slowdown which started showing its impact in the second half of 2008.

The two-wheeler segment also performed well during the reporting month with 13.71 per cent rise in sales. A total of 7,00,995 units were sold in April as compared to 6,16,468 units in the same month of the previous year. Bike sales also surged 12.11 per cent with the sale of 5,62,357 units.

SIAM Senior Director, Sugato Sen said, "On a month-on-month basis, all the segments, except for the two-wheeler, recorded lesser sales compared with last month. Signs are not very encouraging and things are still very sensitive." He said that the present surge in sales is due to low base effect of last year.

The auto industry registered 10.76 per cent rise in total vehicle sales for the year with the sales of 8,94,058 units against 8,07,183 units in April.