Auto manufacturers witnessed a robust demand for passenger cars as well as two-wheelers in the month of February 2009. Domestic demand was triggered due to four percent reduction in excise duty in December as well as government banks funding the auto sector. Two-wheeler segment witnessed a higher growth in demand than the passenger car segment. Expected price cut due to budget kept the buyers away from the market.
Maruti Suzuki sold 70,625 units which is 19 percent higher as compared to the same period last month. This is even more remarkable as this year Maruti did not have any strong models like Swift Dzire which was launched last year in the same period. Total sales grew by 24 percent including exports as the company sold total 79,190 cars in February 2009.
Hyundai Motor India Limited which is India’s leading car exporter sold 21,215 units in February thereby marking a growth of 45.3 percent compared to same period last year. It launched i20 model last year and remodeled Hyundai Verna as well. The increase in sales is some good news, but the situation remains challenging. Sales saw a slight upturn, but the growth could be high on account of the lower base last year,” the company’s senior vice-president (marketing and sales) Arvind Saxena said.
