Passenger vehicle makers cheer as sales jump in month-long festival season

Deliveries of market leader Maruti Suzuki India rose to 190,000 units compared to 130,000 units last year

The month-long festival season that ended on Wednesday brought cheer to passenger vehicle makers as sales rose, buoyed by strong demand.

Consumers usually make big-ticket purchases during the season, which begins with Onam and peaks with Navratri and Diwali, and it is critical for automotive companies as it accounts for as much as a fourth of annual sales.

The top four carmakers, which have an 80 per cent share in the market, saw retail sales or deliveries to customers grow in high double digits compared with last year, officials at these firms said. If not for the still low supply