Maruti leads surge in December car sales

Domestic car sales managed to beat year-end blues clocking a healthy 23% growth in December 2006, while commercial vehicle sales zoomed 49.6% and bike sales increased 4.5%.

According to figures released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), domestic passenger car sales in December stood at 81,026 units as against 65,853 units in the same month last year.

Maruti sold 47,877 units in December as against 38,078 units in December 2005 - an increase of 25.73%. Hyundai Motors also registered growth of 42.78% at 11,049 units (7,738 units), while Tata Motors posted a growth rate of 30.16% at 12,665 units (9.730 units).

Motorcycle sales grew by 4.5% to 4,92,288 units as against 4,71,075 units in December 2005.

Commercial vehicle sales zoomed 49.6% to 41,952 units as against 28,044 units in the year-ago period.