Sales assistants attend to customers inside a Maruti Suzuki dealership in New Delhi. The company exported just 5,847 units last month, which was 47.7% less than 11,179 units sold overseas during the corresponding month of 2013.
IANS /New Delhi
Automobile sales fell in January due to a sluggish economy plagued by high fuel and interest costs. Sales of India’s largest passenger car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki declined by 10.3% in January, which stood at 102,416 units due to a fall in exports.
The company had sold 114,205 units in January 2013.
There was a sharp drop in the company’s exports. Maruti Suzuki exported just 5,847 units last month, which was 47.7% less than 11,179 units sold overseas during the corresponding month of 2013.
The company’s domestic sale decreased by 6.3% to 96,569 units during the month under review as compared to 103,026 units sold in January 2013.
Chennai-based automobile manufacturer Hyundai Motor’s sales in the month under review fell by 12.7% at 45,415 units from 52,024 units in the like period of 2013.
In a statement, the company said its domestic sales during the month under review was down 2.6% at 33,405 units from 34,302 units sold in January 2013.
The company’s exports last month fell by 32.2% at 12,010 units down from 17,722 units being shipped-off during the corresponding month of last year.
Other major players in the Indian auto market, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) reported a drop in sales.
Tata Motors’ total sales, including exports, in the month under review fell by 34.34% at 40,481 units from an off-take of 61,660 units in the corresponding month of 2013.
The company’s domestic sales including commercial and passenger vehicles in the month under review too decline. The off-take fell by 36.55% at 36,657 units from 57,780 units sales in January 2013.
The company’s exports declined by 1.44% and stood at 3,824 in the month under review from 3,880 vehicles shipped-off during the corresponding month of 2013.
M&M’s off-take last month was down 11% at 42,685 units from at 49,503 units sold in the corresponding month of last year.
Domestic sales stood at 40,324 units during last month, as against 47,841 units during January 2013, a decline of 11%. The company’s exports during the month under review fell by 10% at 2,361 units from 1,662 units being shipped-off in the corresponding period 2013.
Ford India last month logged a 49% increase in sales at 10,634 units up from 7,115 units sold in January 2013.
Japanese-Indian joint venture Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s sales during the month under review went down 18.21% at 10,901 units compared to 13,329 units in the corresponding month in 2013.
Japanese automobile major Honda’s sales during the month under review grew by 188% at 15,714 units from 5,451 units sold in the corresponding month last year. Two-and three-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company sales last month grew by six% at 186,313 units from an off-take of 175,931 units during January 2013.