Festive Season Boosts October Sales; Auto Industry Still on the Decline

The cumulative production data for April-October 2012 shows production growth of only 4.12 percent over same period last year. The industry produced 1,829,490 vehicles in October 2012 as against 1,596,500 in October 2011, which grew by around 15 percent. The overall growth in domestic sales during April-October 2012 was 5.26 percent over the same period last year. However, in October 2012 overall sales grew by 14.81 percent over October 2011.

Passenger Vehicles segment grew at 10.53 percent during April-October 2012 over same period last year. Passenger Cars grew by 2.84 percent, Utility Vehicles grew by 60.54 percent and Vans grew by (-0.85) percent during April-October 2012 as compared to same period last year. However, in October 2012 passenger car sales grew by 23.09 percent over October 2011. Total passenger vehicles sales grew by 33.65 percent in October 2012 over same month last year.

The overall Commercial Vehicles segment registered growth of 4.26 percent in April-October 2012 as compared to the same period last year. While Medium Heavy Commercial Vehicles (MHCVs) registered negative growth at (-13.99) percent, Light Commercial Vehicles grew at 18.19 percent.

During April-October 2012 overall automobile exports registered negative growth at (-4.94) percent compare to same period last year. While Passenger Vehicles grew by 5.74 percent and Commercial Vehicles grew only by 1.63 percent. Two Three wheelers declined by (-3.77) and (-26.35) percent respectively in April–October 2012 compared to the same period last year. In October 2012 car exports grew by 29.16 percent compared to last year October and two wheelers exports declined by almost 4 percent during the same period.