In May 2012, the domestic car market registered a 2.78 per cent growth with sales volume of 1,63,229 cars against 1,58,809 models sold in May 2011. In the two wheeler segment, a 7.24 per cent boost was recorded by motorcycles, which sold 8,87,634 units as compared to 8,27,746 models sold last year, according to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) statistics. With 11,92,688 units sold compared to 10,70,603 vehicles rolled out to the customers last year, the two wheeler industry as a whole grew by 11.40 per cent.
According to SIAM, from 56,841 vehicles sold during last year, commercial vehicles sold 62,025 units this year to indicate a growth of 9.12 per cent. It further added that total sales across all the categories stood at 15,13,032 units in May 2012 compared to 13,69,070 vehicles sold in the same month last year. The overall sales of the industry as a whole denoted a growth rate of 10.52 per cent.
However, last month proved to be quite bumpy for many of the car manufacturers as post-Budget price hikes, high interest rates and rising fuel prices resulted in decline in sales. Companies like Maruti Suzuki, General Motors, Ford and TVS Motors posted fall in their sales volume. On the other hand, a growth in sales was reported by Hyundai, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra. In the two wheeler segment, country's largest two wheeler manufacturer, Hero Motocorp, witnessed the sales of highest number of vehicles ever.
Maruti Suzuki sold 89,478 vehicles in May 2012 to mark a YoY decline of 4.32 per cent, whereas Hyundai witnessed a YoY growth of 2.85 per cent, with sales volumes of 32,010 cars. By rolling out 20,503 units, Tata Motors grew by 5.68 per cent, over the 19,401 units sold in same period last year. Having sold 16,702 in May 2011, Mahindra and Mahindra went on to sell 21,154 units this year in the same month to grow by 26.66 per cent. Likewise, General Motors witnessed YoY decline of 27.01 per cent with sales volume of 6,079 vehicles in May 2012 compared to 8,329 units sold in 2011. Ford reported a sales volume of 6,036 units sold this year in May, thus marking a fall of 14.33 per cent against the figure of last year.
On the other hand, with massive progress from 7,470 units sold in May 2011 to 15,501 units sold in the same month this year, Toyota Kirloskar was best performer of all, as it reported growth equivalent to twice the figure of last year.
