According to the latest data released, the total car sales in the Indian market have fallen by a disappointing 22.51 per cent in March compared to the same month of the previous year.

The auto industry body, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said on Wednesday that car sales fell to 1,80,675 units in March 2013 compared to 2,33,151 units sold in the March of 2012. The data also showed that the motorcycle sales fell 8.32 per cent to 7,79,878 units from 8,50,637 units recorded in the same month of the previous year.

SIAM said that the total two-wheeler sales during the month fell 6.96 per cent to 11,01,058 units compared to 11,83,425 units in the same month of 2012. In the commercial vehicles segment, the total sales fell 6.04 per cent to 84,956 units from 90,416 units in March of 2012.

The data also showed that the overall sales of all vehicles in the country recorded a fall of 7.76 per cent to 14,86,522 units in March compared to 16,11,525 units sold in the same month of the previous year. The automotive market in the country is facing a slowdown mainly due to high interest rates and high cost of fuel in India in recent quarters.