Dec brings hope for auto sector, likely to see flat 2012

There's no question about it. The year 2011 has been a tough one for the auto industry. However, the last month of the year, saw some players get a wee bit of traction. CNBC-TV18's Swati Khandelwal Jain reports

December is typically a slow month for the auto sector and December 2011 has been no exception. But despite its historical sluggishness, the month has set the stage for what some hope will be a recovery.

Maruti Suzuki, the leader in the passenger vehicle space, recovered from crippling strikes and falling demand.

Sales in December fell just 7%...that's a much smaller dip than the 21% fall in September, the 53% plunge in October, or the 19% drop in November.

But the other car-makers, who have not taken such a brutal hit through 2011, have had a relatively smoother ride.

M&M saw overall sales jump 26% on a year-on-year basis.