Car sales up 32% in April

Keeping the momentum generated through 2003-04 going, automobile companies have started the current financial year on a high note, as per statistics put together by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Thus, passenger car sales rose 32.41 per cent to 56,272, commercial vehicle sales 67 per cent to 19,784 and two-wheeler sales 16.43 per cent to 441,453 during April 2004 over April 2003, according to a report by SIAM on production and sales for April 2004.

Consolidated automobile sales grew by 20.62 per cent during the month.

In passenger cars, segments like compact, mid-size, executive and premium saw a healthy growth in sales. While the mini segment, which is dominated by Maruti Udyog Ltd, saw a moderate growth, the luxury segment witnessed a decline in sales during the month.

Within commercial vehicles, medium and heavy commercial vehicles saw a 79.37 per cent surge in sales, while light commercial vehicles saw a 50.59 per cent rise.

The high growth indicates a robust performance by the economy during the month under consideration "" along with cement and steel, commercial vehicle sales are a good barometer of economic activity in any country.

In two-wheelers, motorcycles (India is the second largest motorcycle market in the world after China) continued their strong performance recording a 14.6 per cent growth in sales volumes.

While scooter/scooterette sales jumped 28.4 per cent during the month, moped sales rose by 10.94 per cent.

Automobile sales in the country have been booming for almost an year now spurred by the falling rate of interest and good monsson rains last year which has led to an improvement in disposable incomes in the rural markets.

The country recorded passenger car sales (including exports) of over one million in 2003-04. Most car companies expect domestic sales to breach the one million mark this year.