Auto sales overall positive in May

The country's largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India, today reported a robust 15.75 per cent jump in its sales for May, over the same month last year, but rival Hyundai Motor India saw its domestic sales dip during the month.

Also, two-wheeler majors like Hero Honda India, TVS Motors and India Yamaha Motor recorded higher overall sales for the month.

Maruti Suzuki India reported a 15.75 per cent jump in the total sales in May at 79,872 units as against 69,001 units in the same month last year.

Hyundai Motor, on the other hand, reported a 4.11 per cent fall in domestic passenger-car sales during May at 23,503 units, from 24,510 units in the same month of 2008.

However, the company's cumulative sales (including exports) during May were up 8.36 per cent at 43,628 units against 40,261 units in the same month a year ago.

In the case of two-wheelers, the country's largest player, Hero Honda Motors, reported a 22.52 per cent jump in total sales in May at 3,82,678 units, over 3,12,317 units in the same month last year.

On the other hand, Chennai-based TVS Motor Company reported a 2.23 per cent fall in its motorcycle sales during May at 53,495 units compared to 54,717 units in the same month last year.

The company's scooter sales also declined by 1.94 per cent at 22,486 units compared with 22,931 units in May 2008.

However, its total two-wheeler sales stood at 1,18,574 units in May as against 1,12,770 units in the same month of 2008, up 5.15 per cent.

India Yamaha Motor reported an 82.38 per cent increase in sales during May at 16,952 units, from 9,295 units sold in the same month last year.