Car sales up 2.48% in May

Domestic passenger car sales continued its upward march for the fourth consecutive month, with May sales increasing 2.48 per cent to 1,13,490 units, as compared 1,10,745 units sold during the same month of the previous year, but the growth may reverse unless the government provides further support, said Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) today.

''Whatever growth we have seen in the last 3-4 months, all because of the effect of the stimulus packages, but unfortunately it (the effect) is fading. To keep the growth going, the industry needs more stimulus from the government,'' SIAM Senior Director Sugato Sen said.

The total two-wheeler sales in May 2009 also increased by 12.45 per cent to 7,27,937 units from 6,47,358 units sold in the same month last year.

Companies sold 5,76,541 units of motorcycles during the month, registering a 12.34 per cent jump from 5,13,209 units during last year period.

However, total commercial vehicle sales dipped 14.78 per cent to 30,800 units in May 2009 from 36,141 units in the same month a year ago.

On the basis of feedback received from vendors and dealers, Mr Sen said lower sales are expected in this month.

''June will be worse for passenger vehicles...fundamentals have not changed...unavailability and high cost of finance are still affecting,'' he said.

The public sectors banks are aggressively coming forward, but private sector lenders are not supporting the auto industry to a big extent, Mr Sen added.

In the passenger car segment, the market leader Maruti Suzuki India registered 9.71 per cent increase in May sales to 62,878 units from 57,315 units sold in the corresponding month last year.

Mr Sen said this segment is driving on the back of Maruti Suzuki's sales, which is constantly making good growth.

Hyundai Motor India, however, registered a dip of 4.10 per cent at 23,501 units as against 24,506 units a year ago, while Tata Motors' sales were dipped by 9.77 per cent at 12,838 units from 14,228 units sold in May previous year.

General Motors, whose parent filed for bankruptcy in the US, witnessed a surge of 1.18 per cent to 3,890 units in May as against 3,847 units in the same month last year.

Another auto major Honda Siel Cars registered a jump of 11.01 per cent to 4,073 units from 3,669 units sold in the last year period.

In the motorcycle segment, market leader Hero Honda registered a 20.77 per cent surge in its sales at 3,59,145 units in May compared with 2,97,387 units a year-ago, while Bajaj Auto's sales slipped by 12.64 per cent to 1,13,630 units from 1,30,068 units in the same month last year.

TVS Motor has registered a surge of 3.02 per cent at 43,165 units as against 41,901 units and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India sales increased by 33.75 per cent to 36,200 units from 27,066 units.

Three-wheeler sales during May were up by 5.28 per cent at 30,036 units compared with 28,530 units in the same month last year.

Light commercial vehicle sales during the fifth month of the year was up by 11.83 percent at 18,619 units as against 16,649 units in the year ago period.

Medium and Heavy Commercial vehicle sales in May fell by 37.51 percent at 12,181 units compared with 19,492 units last year.