Domestic car sales in August plunge by 19%; registers first fall in last 10-months

10 Sep 2012 Evaluate

Underscoring the fears of sluggish economic growth in Asia's third-largest economy, domestic passenger car sales registered its first fall in 10 months in August at 118,142 units compared to 145,066 units in the same month in 2011, thereby recording a plunge of 18.56 percent. Total passenger vehicles sales also declined in August 2012 by almost 4 percent over same month last year.

According to the data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), motorcycle sales in last month dropped for the first time since 2009 to 766,127 units from 836,887 units in the same month previous year, clocking drop of 8.46 per cent.  Meanwhile, total two-wheeler sales in August 2012 decreased by 4.50 per cent to 1057,925 units from 1107,782 units in the same period of previous year. However, on cumulative basis two-wheelers registered a growth of 6.80 percent during April-August 2012.

Further, total sales of vehicles across categories registered a dip of 3.90 per cent to 1354,436 units in August, against 1409,412 units in the corresponding month of the previous year. The overall growth in domestic sales during April-August 2012 was 6.61 percent over same period last year. However, total sales of commercial vehicles for the month under review have risen by 3.92 per cent to 66,767 units from 64,248 units in the year-ago period.

Soaring fuel prices, costly loans as well as fears of job losses in a slowing economy have crimped demand for cars and sport-utility vehicles. Thus, the falling trend has forced many automakers into production cuts and temporary shutdowns over the past three months. 

SIAM has further averred that, 'now we are entering a desperate zone,' and ‘if the negative trends continue in September as well, we will have to revise our targets downwards.' The SIAM has already pruned its car sales growth target to 9% from 10-12% due to high fuel prices and expensive interest rates.

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