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Passenger car sales up 66 per cent

The passenger car market zipped past other segments of the booming auto industry in October, recording a 66 per cent rise in sales compared to the same month the previous year.

According to the figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers today, car sales went up by 19,092 units to touch 47,999 units in October. Car sales during the first seven months of this financial year ended October 31 grew by 49 per cent.

Two-wheeler sales were up 17 per cent at 326,162 units in October over 278,380 units the same month of the previous year. During the first seven months, two-wheeler sales were at 2,063,993 units, up seven per cent from 1,926,738 units last year. Reversing an earlier trend, scooter sales witnessed a 15 per cent rise in October to touch 123,000 units against 106,997 a year ago.

April-October sales of scooters, however, continued to be low, down by around six per cent at 723,642 units against 769,850 in the same period of the previous year. Sales in motorcycles rose by 28 per cent in October at 146,948 units. Sales during first seven months were at 935,192 units.

Hero Honda Motors Limited was the most prominent in the bike segment, selling 404,389 units during the first seven months followed by Bajaj Auto Limited, which recorded sales of 213,845 units.

In the three-wheeler sector, sales were up four per cent in October at 15,655 units. Sales were up two per cent during April-October at 115,354 units.

Medium and heavy truck sales during October were up 72 per cent. In April-October, sales were up 62 per cent at 57,764 units from 35,747 a year ago. Light truck sales were at 4,706 units in October, up 14 per cent from 4,112 units in the same month last year. In the first seven months, light truck sales were up five per cent at 30,864 units.

UNI

Business