India April-December 2015 vehicle sales up 1.3 percent; motorbikes buck trend

Over April-December 2015, India produced 17,890,253 vehicles, including cars, commercial vehicles, three wheelers and two wheelers. The data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed a 1.31 percent growth year-on-year.

Two-wheeler sales grew by 1.21 percent year-on-year, with scooters growing 11.39 percent. However, motorcycles and mopeds dragged down the segment, with motorcycles posting a decline of 2.46 percent and mopeds, a decline of 5.39 percent.

Three-wheeler sales declined by 4.3 percent, with passenger carrier and goods carrier sales falling by 3.89 percent and 6.19 percent respectively.

Domestic sales of passenger cars presented a brighter picture, with sales growing by 9.05 percent year-on-year, the association said. Passenger cars, utility vehicles and vans grew by 11.54 percent, 3.17 percent and 1.31 percent, respectively.

Commercial vehicle sales grew by 8.47 percent with Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicle sales growing by 29.74 percent but Light Commercial Vehicle sales falling by 3.52 percent. Overall exports increased by 1.4 percent year-on-year, in the period.