By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : The automobile industry has got its momentum back with April’s overall vehicle sales rising by 9.83 per cent, thanks to reduced excise duty in the 2008-09 Budget.
According to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the domestic passenger car sales managed a growth of 17.15 per cent in April.
Total domestic vehicles sale in April stood at 8,06,238 units, against 7,34,103 units in the same month last year.
The Union Budget 2008-09 proposed a reduction in excise duty on small cars to 12 per cent from 16 per cent and a similar cut on two and three wheelers, and buses and chassis.
The passenger car segment clocked a sale of 98,740 units during the month, against 84,283 units in the same month a year ago, SIAM said.
Segment leader Maruti Suzuki India registered an increase of 22.30 per cent at 51,766 units, against 42,326 units in the same month in 2007.
Rival Hyundai Motors sold 21,492 units during the month, against 15,697 units last year, up 36.92 per cent.
Tata Motors, however, recorded a decline of 17.10 per cent at 11,193 units, against 13,502 units in the same month previous year.
General Motors India had a 21.65 per cent jump in its sales with its hatchback ‘Spark’ continuing a good run. The company’s overall sales stood at 3,411 units, compared to 2,804 units last year.
On the motorcycles front, the industry witnessed a reasonably good growth in April with the segment registering a jump of 8.31 per cent at 5,01,592 units, against 4,63,091 units during the year-ago month, SIAM said.