Hyundai, Mahindra vroom in November, while Tata sputters

Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), the country's second largest car manufacturer, registered a robust 15.42 per cent growth in sales during November. The company sold 19,052 units as compared with 16,506 units in the corresponding month last year.

Hyundai attributes the increase to the contribution from i10, the newly launched small car which has sold about 10,000 units since its launch on October 31. The car has been pitched between two of the company's highest selling models, Santro and Getz.

Arvind Saxena, vice-president, marketing and sales, HMIL, said, "After the successful launch of the i10, Hyundai has been able to sell over 10,000 units of the car. As compared with last year, the sales have significantly increased for this month and we are positive that we will be able to keep the momentum going in the coming months."

Mahindra and Mahindra recorded a growth of 35 per cent for the same month selling 17,846 units as against 13,154 units sold in November 2006.

The sales grew on the back of the decent number of mid-sized sedan Logan, under the Mahindra-Renault JV umbrella, being sold. The Logan sold 1,561 units during the month.

Tata Motors, the country's largest automobile house, recorded a decline of 16 per cent in sales at 16,322 units. Indica and Indigo, the company's flagship models, recorded falls of 19.6 per cent and 29.5 per cent respectively.

The models comprises 76 per cent (12,502 units) of the company's total sales. Tata Motors also sells the Sumo and Safari models, which showed positive growth of 7 per cent during the period.

"November 2006 was a high base month in view of the impact on full supply post restoration of the company's paint shop, which had got damaged in a fire in late September last year," said a company release.

Czech-based SkodaAuto witnessed a rise of 1.19 per cent in sales at 937 units as compared with 926 units in 2006. The company sells the Octavia, Superb and Laura in the Indian market.