Commercial vehicles sales drop

NEW DELHI, OCT. 2. Continuing negative sales growth by domestic auto makers such as Telco and Ashok Leyland in the medium and heavy segment pushed commercial vehicles sales down by 2.89 per cent during April-August 2000-01.

A total of 53,459 commercial vehicles were sold during the first five months of the current fiscal as against 55,054 units in the same period of April-August 1999-2000, according to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Sales of medium and heavy (M&H) vehicles, which comprised 56 per cent of the total commercial vehicles market, fell by 12.7 per cent to 29,948 vehicles during April-August 2000-01 from 34,311 units in the corresponding period a year ago.

However, the light commercial vehicles (LCVs) segment posted a positive 13.3 per cent growth at 23,511 units during the reference period as compared to 20,743 units during April-August 1999-2000.

The country's largest commercial vehicle maker Telco sold 19,174 units during the reference period, a dip of 14.5 per cent, from 22,431 units in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Hinduja group flagship Ashok Leyland also registered a 9.38 per cent dip in sales at 10,722 units during April-August 2000-01 as compared to 11,832 units a year ago. However, the LCVs segment continued to post upward sales movement with all the players, except Bajaj tempo, recording positive growth during April-August 2000-01.

Telco made up for its poor show in the M&H segment by clocking a 13.2 per cent growth at 14,710 units during the reference period as against 12,993 units in the same period a year ago.

Eicher Motors, which has recently announced its plans to enter the M&H segment, sold 2,779 units during April-August 2000-01, a rise of 29.6 per cent, as compared to 2,144 units in the corresponding period last year.

- PTI

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Section  : Business
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