Maruti Suzuki's sales in August slide 40.8%

Hit by a month-long lockout at its Manesar plant, the sales dipped

Hit by a month-long lockout at its Manesar plant due to violence, the country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India today reported 40.8% decline in total sales for August at 54,154 units as against 91,442 units in the same month last year.

Domestic sales during the month stood at 50,129 units, compared to 77,086 units in August last year, down 35%, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a statement.

Hampered by the production constraints, sales of its popular compact sedan Dzire was down by 60.7% to 3,085 units during the month.

The company's other best selling model Swift, along with Estilo and Ritz, together clocked 6,059 units in August this year, down 62.2% from last year.

Sales of small cars, including the M800, Alto, A-Star and Wagon R, declined by 41.2% to 22,062 units.

During the month, sales of mid-sized sedan SX4 fell by 76.4% to just 447 units, MSI said, adding there was no sale of the luxury sedan Kizashi during the period.

Exports during the month stood at 4,025 units as compared to 14,356 in August last year, down 72%.

The company had lifted a month-long lockout at its Manesar plant on August 21.

The plant was closed following violence and arson on July 18 in which a senior company official was killed and 100 others injured.