Bike sales up 17% in Feb, car sales flat

Motorcycle sales increased by almost 17% in February 2006, and domestic car sales registered almost a flat growth of 1.83%.

According to figures released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the growth trend continued in the motorcycle segment with 16.98% growth in February at 4,97,280 units as against 4,25,077 units sold in February 2005.

Hero Honda continued to lead with 11.46% sales growth at 2,41,232 units as against 2,16,424 units in the same month last year.

Bajaj Auto sales zoomed 33% to 1,57,386 units as against 1,17,947 units sold in February 2005.

Domestic passenger car sales rose by 1.83% to 63,215 units when compared with 62,073 units sold in February 2005.

Maruti Udyog and Hyundai Motors reported sales decline of 3.71% and 7.7%, respectively. While Maruti clocked 32,259 units (as against 33,505 units last year), Hyundai sold 8,780 units as against 9,518 units in the year-ago period.

Tata Motors, however, managed to increase sales by 12% to 14,201 units as against 12,671 units sold in February 2005.

Cumulative passenger car sales between April-February 2005-06 increased by 5.5% to 7,71,116 units as against 7,30,455 units in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

In the commercial vehicles segment, sales during the month under review increased 19.16% to 35,049 units from 29,411 units sold in February 2005.