Honda, Hyundai log sales growth, Ford sales dip

Honda-Hyundai-Ford-LogoChennai, June 1 : Japanese and Korean car makers Honda Cars India Ltd and Hyundai Motor India Ltd registered sales growth while American Ford India Pvt Ltd saw a dip in its sales last month, officials said.

Honda Cars recorded 9.8 percent growth in sales in May in the domestic market compared to the sales registered by the company during the corresponding period last year.

In a statement issued Saturday, the company said it sold 11,342 units in the domestic market last month, up from 10,334 units sold in the corresponding month last year. Honda Cars also exported 738 units last month.

"We have started the financial year on a good note and would look to build on this positive trend in our new phase of growth in the country. We expanded our operating universe with the new Honda Amaze which continues to receive great response from the first time buyers and consumers looking for a family car," Jnaneswar Sen, senior vice president-marketing and sales was quoted as saying in the statement.

Honda Cars logged 14 percent growth in sales during the first two months of the current fiscal, selling 19,830 units during April-May 2013.

On the other hand, Hyundai Motor India showed a marginal increase in its domestic sales with 32,102 units last month over 32,010 units sold in May 2012.

Hyundai Motors exports went up by 4.6 percent last month to 24,754 units. The company's total sales last month was 56,856 units -- up from 55,669 units sold in May 2012.

Rakesh Srivastava, senior vice president-sales and marketing, Hyundai Motor India, said: "Hyundai has been able to maintain positive growth and will gain in market share in a market that is at the near bottom level and is expected to move into positive growth in the coming months as the demand for the petrol cars is improving."

Last month, Ford India sold a total of 5,993 units (domestic 4,002 units, exports 1,991 units) as against 7,729 units (domestic 6,036 units, exports 1,693 units) sold in May 2012. (IANS)