M&M leads, Hyundai slows, Tata skids in Aug

Utility vehicle and passenger car manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) grew a robust 43.59% for the month of August in the passenger vehicle category, thanks to its alliance with Renault.

The company sold 2,252 Logan sedans during the month. Comparable year-on-year figures are not available as production of the car model started in April this year.

The company's utility vehicle (UV) segment grew by 20% where the company sold UVs like the Scorpio, Bolero, Armada among others. The company sold a total of 11,494 UV units during the period. In all, M&M sold 13,746 units of passenger vehicles during the reporting month as compared to 9,573 units in August 2006.

Tata Motors, the third largest car maker, dissapointed in August as sales dipped 5.25% at 16,620 units (17,541 units). The company sells the Indica, Indigo, Safari and the Sumo brand of vehicles among others.

Indica sales slumped 4% at 11,396 units. Sumo and Safari sales declined 12% at 3,032 units. The company is gearing up to launch a completely new Indica and Indigo, and also the Sumo in due course.

Domestic sales of Hyundai, on the other hand, were virtually stagnant growing at only 0.23% at 16,138 units as against 16,101 units for the same month of the previous year. It had grown by 8% in the previous year for that month.

Arvind Saxena, VP (marketing and sales), Hyundai Motor India, said: "With the festive season round the corner, we expect sales to grow across segments in the coming months."

The industry has not seen any new launches from the company even as rival Maruti Udyog launched the SX4 and the Swift diesel models.

The company is hoping that its forthcoming launches, including a Santro CNG and a new compact diesel driven car, will help pick up sales.