Budget expectations and the subsequent fall in purchases resulted in a 4.23% drop in passenger car sales during February, 2005, even as the motocycles segment continued its northward movement on the back of improved performances by Bajaj Auto and Hero Honda.Motorcycle sales registered 16.89% growth at 4,25,077 units last month as against sales of 3,63,655 units in February, 2004. The data released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed a total of 62,072 units of passenger cars were sold in the month under review down from 64,819 units in February, 2004.However, passenger car sales in the 11-month period of the fiscal (April-February, 2004-05) increased 17.67% at 7,30,425 units against 6,20,705 units sold in the same period last fiscal.The slowdown in purchases just before the Budget in anticipation of excise duty cuts was among the factors behind the decline of passenger car sales last month.Domestic sales of the country's largest car manufacturer Maruti Udyog declined 1.69% in February to 33,505 units, primarily due to 40.53% drop in sales of Maruti 800 at 8,038 units last month compared to 13,518 units in February, 2004.Hyundai Motor India also performed poorly last month with sales dropping 17.63% at 9,518 units as against 11,556 units sold in the domestic market during February, 2004.Tata Motors, however, improved its performance by selling 12,671 units compared to 9,757 units sold in February, 2004, an increase of 29.86%.The two-wheeler segment, including scooters, scoterettees and mopeds, had a 12.33% sales growth in the domestic market in February this year at 5,19,900 units against 4,62,810 units in the same period of last fiscal.Scooter/scooterettee sales, primarily contributed by Honda Motorcycles, Scooter India and TVS Motor, declined 7.25% in the month at 67,409 units. However, the segment recorded a modest growth of 5.21% in the 11 months of the current fiscal on a sale of 8,48,902 units.Overall, two-wheeler sales (both in domestic market and exports) grew to 59,88,273 units in April-February period of current fiscal compared to 51,23,329 units in the same period of last fiscal.Commercial vehicles in February witnessed 13.87% sales rise at 29,407 units against 25,825 units in February, 2004.
