Automobile production and sales fall in May

The Indian automobile industry closed last month producing 4.08 percent lesser number of vehicles as compared to May 2012 while the overall domestic sales during April-May this year declined 0.64 percent over the like period last year, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said Tuesday.

"The industry produced 1,737,548 vehicles in May 2013 as against 1,811,515 in May 2012, decline of 4.08 percent over the same month last year. The overall domestic sales during April-May 2013 declined by 0.64 percent over the same period last year," SIAM said in a statement.

According to SIAM, the overall sales in passenger vehicles declined by 8.56 percent during April-May 2013 over the same period last year.

However, within the passenger vehicle segment, sales of cars and vans dropped by 11.33 percent and 10.88 percent while sales of utility vehicles grew by 4.08 percent during April-May 2013 as against comparable period last year.

The overall commercial segment registered slide of 5.20 percent in April-May 2013 as compared to the same period last year. Medium and heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCVs) registered negative growth of 12.11 percent and light commercial vehicles also dropped by 1.36 percent.

"Three-wheelers sales recorded marginal growth of 1.47 percent in April-May 2013 over the same period last year. Passenger carriers and goods carriers grew by 1.48 percent and 1.44 percent respectively in April-May 2013 over April-May 2012," SIAM said.

Two-Wheelers registered marginal growth of 1.04 percent during April-May 2013 over April-May 2012.

Within the two-wheelers segment, mopeds and motorcycles declined by 11.45 percent and 1.38 percent, respectively, while scooters grew by 13.88 percent in April-May 2013 over April-May 2012.

During April-May 2013 overall automobile exports declined by 8.62 percent. Exports of passenger vehicles and three-wheelers grew by 7.34 percent and 26.53 percent, respectively, while commercial vehicles and two-wheelers dropped significantly by 19.62 and 16.50 percent, respectively, in April-May 2013 over April-May 2012.