Car sales dip 13.3% in July; Maruti worst hit

Passenger car sales continued to remain in a tailspin falling by 13.3 per cent in July to 47,375 cars, mainly on account of a sharp dip in sales of India's largest carmaker Maruti Udyog Limited.

MUL car sales fell to 27,665 units in July from 37,404 units a year ago in the face of stiff competition from the two Korean chaebols Hyundai and Daewoo, both of which reported positive growth during the month.

The market leader's share followed the same pattern going down to 58.39 per cent from 68.45 per cent in July 1999, according to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.

Domestic auto major TELCO also recorded negative growth in car sales as demand for its 'made-in-India' car Indica fell by 14.47 per cent to 3,583 units during July 2000 from 4,189 units in the same month last year.

Hyundai Motor India Limited recorded an impressive 46.78 per cent jump to 7,265 cars in July 2000 compared to 4,949 units last year, while Daewoo Motors India Limited sold 4,110 cars during the month, a rise of 46.73 per cent, against 2,801 cars in July 1999.

Recessionary trend continued in other sectors of the domestic automobile industry with scooter sales falling by 14.32 per cent, commercial vehicles sales by 3.49 per cent and mopeds by 1.23 per cent during July 2000.

However, sales of motorcycles, multi-utility vehicles and three wheelers rose during the month by 22.79 per cent, 16.22 per cent and 5.87 per cent, respectively.

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