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Auto sales rise in April

BS Corporate Bureau

Motorcycles, scooters and car manufacturers on Wednesday reported an improvement in their year-on-year sales for April.

Hero Honda Motors reported a 40.6 per cent rise in sales in April 2002 at 1,35,961 motorcycles, compared to 96,672 units sold in April 2001.

However, the sales in April were flat, compared to 135 million motorcycles sold in March.

Bajaj Auto said its motorcycle sales grew 65 per cent at 67,136 units in April 2002, compared to 40,776 units in April 2001.

The cumulative sales of two- and three-wheelers were higher by 15 per cent at 1,18,431 units in April 2002 as against 1,02,911 units in April 2001.

Chennai-based TVS Motor Co Ltd, the third largest player after Hero Honda and Bajaj, said its motorcycle sales volumes rose 83 per cent in April 2002 over April 2001, driven by the continuing demand for its four-stroke model, Victor, launched last year.

TVS said it sold 50,283 motorcycles in April 2002, compared to 27,425 in April 2001.

The company also said its scooter sales rose 32 per cent in April 2002 to 10,854 units, while the moped sales rose 28 per cent to 19,548 units. Overall, the two-wheeler sales volumes rose 58 per cent to 80,685 units, a company statement said.

Honda Siel Cars India said its sales grew around 25 per cent, from 617 units in April 2001 to 770 in April 2002. However, the April sales in 2002 were 51.2 per cent lower, compared to 1,581 cars sold in March.

General Motors India said its car sales grew by 39.1 per cent in April 2002 to 803 units, against 577 units sold in April 2001. It comprised 115 units of the premium mid-size Opel Astra, 637 units of mid-size Opel Corsa and 51 Corsa Swing cars. The April sales this year were, however, 41.2 per cent lower than 1,367 cars sold in March.

Riding on the growing demand for its small car Palio, Fiat India has recorded a 739 per cent jump in sales during April 2002 at 4,203 cars over 501 units in April 2001. However, in April 2001, the company was not selling the Palio, which contributed 3,985 units of the sales.

The April sales were 5 per cent higher than 4,003 cars sold in March 2002, a company statement said.

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