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Maruti, MG Motor, Hyundai sales rise in December; Mahindra falls

Maruti Suzuki sales rose 20.2 per cent to 1,60,226 units in December

INDIA-TRANSPORT-AUTOMOBILE-ECONOMY

Automobile companies continued the festive momentum into December as sales rose across the board. Companies including Maruti Suzuki, Toyota Kirloskar, Hyundai and Yamaha reported sales growth during the last month of the pandemic year. However, Mahindra & Mahindra was not so lucky as it saw its sales dipping. 

Maruti Suzuki 

The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Friday reported a 20.2 per cent increase in sales to 1,60,226 units in December. The company had sold 1,33,296 units in December last year, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a statement.

Domestic sales increased 17.8 per cent to 1,46,480 units last month as against 1,24,375 units in December 2019, it added.

Sales of mini cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, increased by 4.4 per cent to 24,927 units as compared to 23,883 in the same month last year.

Similarly, sales of compact segmentvehicles, including models Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire, increased by 18.2 per cent to 77,641 units as against 65,673 cars in December last year.

Sales of mid-sized sedan Ciaz, however, declined by 28.9 per cent to 1,270 units as compared with 1,786 units in December 2019.

Utility vehicle sales, including Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga, rose 8 per cent to 25,701 units compared to 23,808 in the year-ago month, MSI said.

Exports in December were up 31.4 per cent at 9,938 units as against 7,561 units in the corresponding month last year, the company said.

In the October-December quarter (Q3), the auto major reported a growth of 13.4 per cent in total sales at 4,95,897 units over the same period previous year. 

MG Motor 

MG Motor India sales rose by 33 per cent to 4,010 units in December, 2020 as compared to 3,021 units in the same month a year ago.

The company sold 3,430 units of Hector, 458 units of Gloster and 122 units of ZS electric vehicles last month.

The company said it continues to ramp up the production of its premium SUV Gloster and hopes to stabilise the production by March 2021.

It has received 3,000 bookings and retailed 1,085 units of the Gloster in two months, it added. 

Toyota Kirloskar Motor

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) reported 14 per cent growth in its domestic sales to 7,487 units in December 2020. 

The car maker had sold 6,544 vehicles in December 2019.

"As we wrap up the year, we are happy to have registered a 14 per cent growth in wholesales in December 2020, when compared to sales in the same period in 2019," said Naveen Soni, Senior Vice President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM).

He said customer orders have been rising significantly and retail sales (dealer's sale to customers) have also been very encouraging which gives the company confidence to embark upon a new target as it welcomes the New Year 2021.

Mahindra 

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), however, reported a 10.3 per cent decline in total sales at 35,187 units in December, 2020. The company had sold 39,230 units in December 2019, M&M said in a statement.

In the domestic market, passenger vehicle sales were up 3 per cent to 16,182 units last month, compared to 15,691 units in December 2019.

In the commercial vehicles segment, the company sold 16,795 vehicles in the domestic market last month, as against 21,390 units in December 2019, a drop of 21.48 per cent.

Exports increased by 3 per cent to 2,210 units in December 2020, as against 2,149 units in the year-ago month.

Yamaha 

Two-wheeler maker Yamaha Motor India reported a 33 per cent growth in sales to 39,224 units for December as against 29,486 units in the same month last year.

The company has been reporting growth in its sales volumes consecutively over the past six months, following the lifting of the COVID-led lockdown, the two-wheeler maker said in a statement.

Yamaha had registered a 4.3 per cent year-on-year growth in July, 14.8 per cent in August, and 17 per cent in September.

Its sales grew by 31 per cent in October, and it had posted a 35 per cent rise in November.

Hyundai 

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) reported a 33.14 per cent increase in total sales to 66,750 units in December. The company had sold 50,135 units in December 2019.

Domestic sales were up 24.89 per cent at 47,400 units, the company's highest ever in a month, as against 37,953 units in the same month last year, the company said in a statement.

Exports increased 58.84 per cent to 19,350 units as compared to 12,182 in December 2019, it added.

HMIL said its cumulative sales in 2020 stood at 5,22,542 units.

"The world has witnessed multiple challenges in 2020. However, as the most innovative brand, Hyundai has emerged stronger out of this crisis, leading the way for economic revival," HMIL MD and CEO S.S. Kim said.

HMIL achieved a new milestone of highest production in a single month since inception with 71,178 units in December, he noted. The company has also emerged as one of the most preferred brands for SUVs in the country with Creta and Venue leading sales charts, Kim said.

Ashok Leyland 

Hinduja flagship firm Ashok Leyland reported a 14 per cent increase in its total commercial vehicle sales at 12,762 units in December 2020.

The company had sold a total of 11,168 units in December 2019, Ashok Leyland said in a regulatory filing.

Total vehicle sales in the domestic market stood at 11,857 units last month as compared to 10,378 units in the year-ago month, a growth of 14 per cent, it added.

Domestic medium and heavy commercial vehicle sales were at 6,175 units as against 6,369 units in December 2019, down 3 per cent, the company said.

Light commercial vehicle sales in the domestic market were, however, higher by 42 per cent at 5,682 units as against 4,009 units in the same month a year ago, it said. 

Escorts 

Farm equipment manufacturer Escorts Agri Machinery reported an 88 per cent jump in tractor sales at 7,733 units in December 2020.

The company had sold 4,114 units in December 2019.

Domestic tractor sales during last month stood at 7,230 units as against 3,806 units in December 2019, up 90 per cent, Escorts said in a BSE filing.

Escorts said post lockdown, this is the first month where thecompany could supply as per demand of customers, some of whom waited long to get their preferred tractor brand.

Exports last month grew to 503 units compared with 308 units in December 2019.

(With PTI inputs) 

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