3.10.09

Car sales hit record high in September


Hyundai, Honda, General Motors and Ford sold a record number of cars in a month in September as buyers — more confident of jobs and bonuses than last year — lapped up cheap financing schemes offered by banks flooded with deposits. But Maruti, which accounts for about half the cars sold in the country, missed the monthly record as it suspended production of the SX4 sedan. Total car sales surged to over 1.53 lakh in September, from highest monthly sales of 1.29 lakh units reported in March this year, provisional numbers released by companies showed. Final numbers could be higher as some, like Toyota, are yet to report the numbers. South Korea’s Hyundai posted its best sales in 11-year history in the country. Domestic sales grew 25% to 27,803 cars, from 22,311 cars a year ago. Exports grew 9% to 26,001 cars. Maruti sales up 11% to 6-month . Maruti Suzuki, which sells Swift and Alto, said sales rose 11% to 71,594, a six month high, against 64,682 cars a year earlier. Its exports surged 85% to 11,712 units. Maruti missed its previous best of 73,855 cars that it sold in March as sales of its once best-seller model M800 fell 8% to 3,207 from 3,467 a year earlier. The launch of Fiat’s Punto and Linea boosted Tata Motors’ car sales. The company, which also sells Fiat’s models, said sales rose 23% to 20,743, including 2,567 units of Fiat from 16,829 last year same month. Nano, the world’s cheapest car, sold 2,524 units. Others whose car sales rose are: Mahindra & Mahindra’s 37% domestic sales to 21,961, General Motors’ 49% to 7,654, Honda’s 87% at 5,794, Ford’s 50% at 3,405, Skoda’s 53% growth at 1,854. Sales of motorcycles also jumped. Hero Honda sold 4% more at 4.01 lakh units, TVS Motors 4% higher at 1.42 lakh, Yamaha Motor doubled to 26,394, Suzuki Motorcycle gained 26% to 15,719 units. Bajaj Auto is yet to announce its sales figures for last month.

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