New Delhi : Reflecting the slow recovery in Indian automobile market, major car makers Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai saw modest growth in March, while others like Ford and Mahindra posted decline in sales during the month.
Honda Cars India, however, posted a growth of 23 per cent in March riding on the success of its sedans Amaze and City. Maruti Suzuki India said its domestic sales increased by 1.4 per cent during the month to 1,03,719 units as against 1,02,269 units in March 2014.
Sales of mini segment cars, including, Alto and WagonR, rose marginally to 40,159 units as compared to 40,085 units, while sales of compact segment comprising Swift, Estilo, Ritz, Dzire declined by 12.5 per cent to 38,710 units in March.
The company, however, posted its highest ever sales in a fiscal in 2014-15 at 12,92,415 units, up 11.9 per cent, from 11,55,041 units in 2013-14. The previous high was in 2010-11, when it sold 12,71,005 units. “When the industry grew by around 4 per cent, we grew by 11 per cent in FY15. While new models have played a significant role in the challenging environment but our efforts to expand our network both in rural and urban areas have paid off,” Maruti Suzuki India Executive Director Marketing & Sales RS Kalsi told PTI.
Rival Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) sold 39,525 units last month compared with 35,003 units in March 2014, up 12.9 per cent.
Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL), however, had a good run in March registering its highest ever monthly domestic sales of 22,696 units, up 23 per cent as compared to 18,426 units in the same month last year. The company also posted its highest ever annual domestic sales of 1,89,062 units during FY 2014–15 recording 41 per cent growth over last financial year.
Utility vehicle major Mahindra & Mahindra saw its domestic sales declining by 15% to 41,193 units last month as against 48,490 units a year earlier. Likewise, Ford India’s domestic sales were down 17.35 per cent at 5,253 units last month from 6,356 units a year ago.
General Motors India reported 35.5 per cent decline in sales at 4,257 units in March as against 6,601 units in the same month last year.
In the two-wheeler segment, market leader Hero MotoCorp posted 1.47 per cent growth in sales at 5,31,750 units in March as against 5,24,028 units in the same month last year.
For the financial year ended March 31, 2015, the company sold a record 66,31,826 units, up 6.2 per cent from 62,45,960 units sold in 2013-14 fiscal.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) saw its sales rising by 1.81 per cent at 3,99,178 units in March as against 3,92,060 units in the corresponding month last year.
