Car sales jump 21%, bikes up 6.5% in Sept

Domestic passenger car sales have recorded a 20.61 per cent increase at 1,29,683 units in September from 1,07,517 units in the same month last year.

According to the figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) today, motorcycle sales in the country during the month was up 6.56 per cent at 6,73,891 units from 6,32,369 units in the corresponding month a year ago.

The total two-wheeler sales in September grew by 7.67 per cent to 8,38,150 units compared to 7,78,424 units in the same period last year.

The sale of commercial vehicles also reported an increase for the second consecutive month and grew by 6.46 per cent in September to 45,451 units from 42,693 units in the year-ago period, SIAM said.

Sales of commercial vehicles have been on a downward spiral for almost a year before bouncing back in July.

The total sales of all vehicles across categories also rose by 9.6 per cent to 10,92,262 units in September this year against 9,96,586 units in the same month last year, it added.

TThe sales in the commercial vehicle (CV) segment,however, decreased marginally to 2,20,529 units from 2,21,685 units in the same month last year, SIAM said.

"The entry level and the above 25-tonne categories of the CV segment grew, but the middle two categories declined. As the economic activities pick up, the segment will start growing," Chenoy said.

Unless the housing segment starts growing, the sales of heavy commercial vehicles would not rebound, he added.

The grand total of all vehicles grew by 14.51 per cent in the April-September period this fiscal at 57,82,920 units compared with 50,50,279 units in the corresponding period last financial year, SIAM said.