Auto sales clock up yet another record in September

The industry had witnessed a total sales of 12,63,293 units in August this year. The overall vehicle sold in the domestic market during September grew by 21.63 per cent from 10,92,687 units in the same month last year.

Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said the record number in September was driven by best ever monthly sales achieved in passenger cars, motorcycles and total two-wheelers segments.

According to SIAM, domestic passenger car sales jumped by 30.38 per cent to 1,69,082 units in September compared to 1,29,684 units in the same month last year. The September sales were the best ever monthly sales, bettering the previous best of 1,60,794 units in August this year.

Similarly, motorcycle sales of 7,78,352 units, up 15.50 per cent to from 6,73,893 units in the same month last year, was also a record. The previous highest of 7,27,542 units was achieved in August this year.

Total two-wheeler sales achieved a record figure of 10,05,162 units in September, up 19.93 per cent to from 8,38,152 units in the same month last year. The previous best was in August this year at 9,57,304 units.

Sales of commercial vehicles jumped by 29.56 per cent to 59,455 units from 45,889 units in the year-ago period.

During August, the country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India posted domestic sales of 81,060 units, up 28.52 per cent from the same month last year, SIAM said.

Hyundai Motor India had sales of 31,751 units, up 14.20 per cent from September last year. Tata Motors' sales grew by 30.12 per cent to 20,561 units.

In the motorcycles segment, market leader Hero Honda witnessed a growth of 6.19 per cent at 3,97,085 units compared to the same month last year.

Rival Bajaj Auto gained handsomely at 2,30,945 units, up 26.27 per cent from the corresponding month last year. TVS Motor Co had a sales of 63,698 units, up 22.90 per cent from the same month last year.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) saw its bike sales going up by 86.52 per cent to 54,024 units last month.

According to the SIAM data, scooters segment grew by 47.41 per cent to 1,66,494 units during September. The growth was led by HMSI with sales of 64,191 units, up 22.15 per cent from the year-ago period.

TVS Motor's scooter sales were at 41,404 units, a jump of 40.50 per cent, while that of Hero Honda were at 26,468 units, an increase of 53 per cent from September last year.

The commercial vehicles segment carried forward the upward trend that began in July 2009, with sales in last month going up by 29.56 per cent to 59,455 units from 45,889 units in the year-ago period, according to the latest SIAM data.

Light commercial vehicle sales rose 15.56 per cent in September to 29,002 units from 25,098 units. Medium and heavy commercial vehicle sales surged by 46.47 per cent to 30,453 units compared to 20,791 units in the same month last year.

Three-wheeler sales during September were up 18.74 per cent to 48,837 units compared to 41,131 units, SIAM added.