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Car makers Maruti Suzuki, Honda and Hyundai posted increase in their domestic sales in August, while others including Mahindra, Toyota and Tata Motors reported declines amid a continuous slowdown in the market.
While the car makers struggled, two-wheeler makers such as Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India reported sales growth in August this year.
Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), which witnessed a month-long lockout at its Manesar plant last August following violence, posted 51.6% sales growth in this year benefiting from a low base effect.
MSI said its domestic sales increased stood at 76,018 units as against 50,129 units in August last year. Sales of mini segment cars, including M800, Alto, A-Star and WagonR, increased by 45.1% to 32,019 units, while that of compact segment comprising Swift, Estilo, Ritz surged over two fold to 17,409 units.
MSI said sales of its popular compact sedan Dzire zoomed over four fold during the month under review at 13,723 units as against 3,085 units in August 2012.
Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) continued to do well on the on the success of its new entry level sedan Amaze, posting 63% jump in its total domestic sales at 8,913 units for August 2013. It sold 6,242 units of its latest sedan Amaze last month.
"HCIL's overall sales volume during August 2013 was quite robust. With the onset of festival season in West and South India, we have tried to maximise the production of Honda Amaze during August to be able to speed up the deliveries," HCIL Senior Vice President (Marketing & Sales) Jnaneswar Sen said.
Ford India reported 2.14% increase in domestic sales boosted by its new Sports Utility Vehicle, EcoSport to 8,008 units in August this year as against 7,840 units in the same month last year.
"We're grateful and thankful to Indian customers for their response to the all-new EcoSport. Despite difficult business environment, we have recorded our second highest monthly sales this year," Ford India Vice President of Sales Anurag Mehrotra said.
Hyundai's domestic sales stood at 28,311 units during the month, marginally up from 28,257 units in August 2012.
"We expect the challenge to continue in the coming months until there is a significant change in macro-economic policies," HMIL Senior Vice-President (Sales and Marketing) Rakesh Srivastava said.
Volkswagen also posted an increase of 9% in its domestic sales at 4,805 units compared to 4,410 units in August 2012.
Other car makers, however, continued to struggle in a market which has been on a prolonged slump due to weak economic growth, rising fuel costs and sluggish consumer sentiment.
General Motors India reported 11.14% decline in sales at 6,673 units in August 2013, compared to 7,510 units in the same month last year.
"Our sales figures are not on the expected lines as we had stopped production and sales of diesel versions of Sail (both compact and sedan) and Tavera in the first week of June," GM India Vice-President P Balendran said.
The other car lines also continue to face severe pressure due to macroeconomic headwinds such as high fuel prices, high interest rates, rupee depreciation, inflation and weak consumer sentiment, he added.
"As far as the market is concerned, this is the worst and the most protracted slowdown faced by auto industry in the last over nine years. The automobile industry desperately needs a stimulus package from the government to revive the market," Balendran added.
Homegrown auto major Tata Motors' passenger vehicle sales in the domestic market stood at 11,564 units in August, down 48.16% from 22,311 units a year-ago.
Likewise, Mahindra & Mahindra's domestic sales were down 17.9% at 35,159 units as against 42,826 units in the same month last year.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) reported 14.2% decline in August sales in the domestic market at 12,007 units, compared to 13,995 units in the same month last year.
"The market is still sluggish, however we hope to see the market improve with good monsoons and the upcoming festive season," TKM's Deputy Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (Marketing and Commercial) Sandeep Singh said.
In the two wheeler segment, market leader Hero MotoCorp reported a 3.64% rise in total sales at 4,59,996 units for August this year.
The industry expects sales to pick up further on account of good monsoons and the festive season, Hero MotoCorp Senior Vice President (Marketing and Sales) Anil Dua said.
Rival Bajaj Auto, however, reported 8.46% decline in motorcycle sales at 2,78,583 units in August, 2013.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India reported 38.77% growth in sales at 3,08,932 units for August 2013. Similarly, Yamaha Motor India Sales also reported 67.4% growth in total sales at 60,996 during August 2013 as compared to the corresponding period last year.
Chennai-based TVS Motor Co reported 0.57% increase in total sales in August at 1,55,532 units as against 1,54,647 units in the same month last year.
