July auto sales: Maruti up 20%, Leyland zooms 40%; M&M weak

"In July, Mini cars sales (like Alto, WagonR) growth was 31.3 percent and in compact segment (Swift, Ritz, Celerio, Dzire), we sold 48,381 vehicles, registering a 13.9 percent growth over a year-ago perio," it explained.

In mid-size segment, it sold 2,099 vehicles of SX4 and Ciaz (launched in October 2014), which was 800.9 percent higher over July 2014 while Dzire Tour cars sales, which is in super compact segment, increased by 159.4 percent to 3,370 units in the same period.

Maruti launched its S-Cross, which comes under utility vehicles segment, in July. It boosted total utility vehicles sales that increased by 22.8 percent during the month against 10 percent growth in June and 6 percent in May. It also sold Gypsy and Ertiga under this segment.

Vans segment (Omni, Eeco) grew by 1.8 percent in the same period.

Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki's net profit surged 56.5 percent year-on-year to Rs 1,193 crore on strong operational performance and volume growth (of 13.8 percent) in April-June quarter while it registered a 18 percent growth in revenue at Rs 13,425 crore.

The scrip of Maruti Suzuki on Friday closed at at Rs 4,330.40, up Rs 36.85, or 0.86 percent on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Eicher Motors grows further

Royal Enfield maker Eicher Motors has reported a whopping 49 percent growth in July motorcycle sales. It sold 40,760 motorcycles during the month against 27,314 units sold in the year-ago period. Sequential growth was 9 percent.

Sales of motorcycles (having engine capacity upto 350cc) increased by 52 percent while motorcycles (that has more than 350cc engine capacity) rose by 30 percent in July. Exports grew by 72 percent on yearly basis and 20 percent sequentially to 893 units.

M&M sales remain weak

Mahindra and Mahindra continued to see slowdown in domestic sales but its exports were strong in July, up 41 percent to 3,565 units.

The utility vehicle maker sold 34,652 units in the month gone by, down 2.6 percent compared to 35,567 units sold in July 2014 due to lower domestic sales.

Domestic sales declined 6 percent year-on-year to 31,087 vehicles, impacted by passenger vehicles (PV) sales.

PV sales (which includes utility vehicles, cars and vans) fell 13 percent to 14,456 units. Tractor sales also dropped 11 percent to 15,460 units during the same period.

However, commercial vehicle sales increased by 7 percent to 1214 units, driven by light commercial vehicles and medium & heavy commercial vehicles.

The company is confident of seeing growth in sales volumes. “While the auto industry is currently seeing muted growth, we do believe that the launch of some exciting new products will help it turn the tide," said Pravin Shah, president & chief executive (automotive), M&M.

Ashok Leyland: MHCV leads growth

Ashok Leyland, the country's second largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has registered a whopping 40 percent growth in July sales aided by medium & heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV).

It sold 11,022 vehicles in the month gone by compared to 7,861 vehicles sold in the corresponding period of last fiscal.

MHCV sales jumped 53 percent year-on-year to 8,803 units and light commercial vehicle sales grew by 5 percent to 2,219 units in the same period.

TVS Motor slows down

TVS Motor Company's July sales increased by 2 percent year-on-year to 2.18 lakh vehicles, impacted by motorcycles sales.

Exports grew by 15 percent with sales increasing to 42,677 units from 36,986 units in July 2014 and two-wheeler exports also rose by 15 percent.

Total two-wheelers sales were up 1.3 percent at 2.08 lakh units with domestic sales down 1 percent in the month gone by. "Scooters sales grew by 10 percent to 69,626 units and motorcycles registered sales of 77,397 units in July 2015, down 4 percent over a year-ago period," said the company in its filing to the exchange.

Three-wheeler sales increased by 15 percent to 10,277 units from 8,964 units on yearly basis.

Tata Motors gains strength

The country's largest commercial vehicle manufacturer Tata Motors sold 40,154 units in July, a growth of 1 percent over 39,629 units sold in the year-ago period, driven by exports.

Exports grew by 16 percent year-on-year to 5,078 units while domestic sales fell 1 percent to 35,076 units during the same period.

Passenger vehicle sales increased by 27 percent to 8,520 units and medium & heavy commercial vehicle sales rose by 21 percent to 11,808 units in the month of July.

Hero Motocorp loses ground

India's largest two-wheeler maker Hero Motocorp sold 4.9 lakh vehicles in July, down 9.6 percent compared to 5.42 lakh units sold in the corresponding month of last year.

Bajaj Auto improves further

Bajaj Auto improved its sales further in July. It sold 3.3 lakh units during the month, a growth of 3 percent over 3.19 lakh units in the year-ago period, aided by motorcycle.

Motorcycles' sales rose 5 percent to 2.82 lakh units during the same period while exports fell 3 percent to 1.65 lakh units and 3-wheeler sales declined 7 percent to 47,798 units in July.

Atul Auto retains growth

Atul Auto, the three-wheeler manufacturer, sold 12,555 vehicles in July, a growth of 4.89 percent compared to 11,970 units sold in same period last year.