High-end car sales dipped 7.59%

The global downturn forced the elite class to be away purchasing new high-end cars. This trend is clearly seen in the sales data of May 2009. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in May, car companies managed to sell only 3,360 units as against 3,636 units in the same period of the last year. Moreover, the sales of the luxury cars slipped to 7,098 units from 7,149 units in the corresponding period of the previous year. In India, Mercedes-Benz German carmaker sold 181 units of its C-Class, E-Class and S-Class cars last month against 275 units in the corresponding month of last year. BMW, another German car maker, saw a fall of 169 units from 218 units in the same month last year in India. General Motors India’s luxury segment declined by 68.67 per cent at 120 units during the month compared with 383 units in May 2008.
Hyundai Motor India too reported a sharp decline of 50.91 per cent of its Elantra and Sonata cars at 655 units against 1,025 units during May last year. 435 units were sold of Civic and Accord car models of Honda Siel Cars India in the said month, with a drop of 66.38 per cent over 1,294 units sold during the same month of last year. A fall of 20.88 per cent over last year's 1,049 units is seen in Skoda Auto India that sold 830 units of Octavia, Laura and Superb.