Car majors' sales rise, Maruti suffers setback

Maruti Suzuki India witnessed its sales drop for the sixth consecutive month in November, with the firm on Thursday reporting a 18.46 per cent decline in sales to 91,772 units.

The company had sold 1,12,554 units in the same month last year, Maruti Suzuki India said in a statement.

The national capital-based company recorded sales of 82,870 units in the domestic market last month, a 19.15 per cent fall from 1,02,503 units in November, 2010.

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In a similar fashion, MSI's exports decreased by 11.43 per cent in November to 8,902 units from 10,051 units in the year-ago period, the company added.

Total passenger car sales in the domestic market dipped by 16.59 per cent to 73,078 units last month from 87,618 units in the same month of 2010, it added.

Sales of the company's mini-segment cars, including the M800, A-Star, Alto and WagonR, fell by 27.24 per cent to 38,921 units from 53,489 units in November, 2010.

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In the compact segment (comprising the Estilo, Swift and Ritz models), MSI witnessed a 3.72 per cent dip in sales to 22,159 units from 23,014 units in the same month a year ago.

Sales of MSI's DZiRE model, however, increased by 6.04 per cent to 10,403 units from 9,810 units in the corresponding period a year ago.

In addition, MSI's mid-sized sedan SX4's sales grew by 9.81 per cent to 1,433 units from 1,305 units in the year-ago month.

Luxury sedan Kizashi witnessed sales of 162 units.

Toyota Kirloskar's sales jump over two-fold

Carmaker Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Thursday reported an over two-fold increase in sales to 13,956 units in November, 2011, driven by robust demand for its latest Etios and Liva models.

The company had sold 5,242 units in the corresponding month last year, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said.

TKM, a joint venture between the world's largest car-maker Toyota and the Kirloskar Group, attributed the
growth to healthy sales of its Etios sedan and small car Liva.

M&M posts 52.7% rise in sales

Mahindra & Mahindra on Thursday reported a 52.71 per cent rise in vehicle sales to 40,722 units in November, 2011.

The company had sold 26,666 units in the same month of 2010.

In the domestic market, the company registered a 51.63 per cent rise in sales to 38,159 units during the month, compared to 25,166 units in the year-ago period, Mahindra & Mahindra said.

Total sales of passenger vehicles, including Scorpio, XUV500, Xylo, Bolero and Verito, stood at 17,813 units during the month under review, as against 12,323 units in November, 2010, translating into a 44.55 per cent increase.

"We are delighted with our outstanding growth in November, wherein in spite of the market slowdown post the festive season, we have been able to maintain a consistent performance.

"All our brands are doing well, with the excitement around XUV500 continuing as we ramp up production," M&M chief executive (automotive division) Rajesh Jejurikar said.

The company said sales of its three-wheelers went up by 31.80 per cent to 5,889 units during November, 2011, from 4,468 units during the same month last year.

Sales of the company's Gio and Maxximo mini-trucks and other four-wheeler commercial vehicles increased by 73.56 per cent last month to 13,362 units from 7,699 units in the year-ago period, the statement said.

Light commercial vehicle sales from Mahindra Navistar Automotives Ltd stood at 1,095 units during the month, as against 676 units in the same month a year ago, a rise of 61.98 per cent.

M&M's exports jumped by 70.87 per cent to 2,563 units during the month from 1,500 units during November, 2010.

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GM India November sales rise marginally

General Motors India on Thursday reported a marginal increase in sales for November at 8,440 units as compared to the same month last year.

The company had sold 8,376 units in the same month last year, General Motors India said in a statement.

GM India vice-president P Balendran said the company has been able to grow sales despite the sluggish market on the
back of its hatchback Beat.

"Other car-lines like Cruze and Tavera have also generated the volumes on the expected lines.

"The market, however, continues to remain sluggish due to unprecedented hikes in interest rates, fuel prices, commodity prices, growing inflation and negative market sentiments. These factors are putting lot of pressure on the automobile market," he added.

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Tata Motors sales rise 41%

Tata Motors on Thursday reported a 40.64 per cent increase in its total vehicle sales during November, at 76,823 units.

The company had sold 54,622 units in the same month last year.

The homegrown firm's total passenger vehicles sales in the domestic market stood at 27,737 units in November, up 80.81 per cent from 15,340 units in the same month last year, Tata Motors said.

The company's small car Nano's sales stood at 6,401 units during the month compared to 509 units in the year-ago period, recording an over 12-fold jump.

The 'Indica' range reported a sales of 10,926 units against 5,716 units in the year-ago period, up 91.15 per cent, Tata Motors said.

In addition, the 'Indigo' family recorded sales of 6,213 units, up 3.39 per cent in comparison to 6,009 units in the same month last year.

Sales of Sumo, Safari and Aria grew by 35.13 per cent to 4,197 units compared to 3,106 units in the corresponding period last year.

In the commercial vehicles segment, the company sold 44,737 units in the domestic market during the month under review compared to 35,079 units in the period last year, an increase of 27.53 per cent.

Light commercial vehicle sales during the month amounted to 28,673 units, a growth of 40.72 per cent over 20,376 units in the same month last year. The medium and heavy commercial vehicle sales stood at 16,046 units, a growth of 9.13 per cent compared to 14,703 units in November, 2010.

The company's exports increased by 3.47 per cent to 4,349 units last month from 4,203 units in the same month last year, it added.