Maruti Suzuki continued to report decrease in auto sales for second consecutive month in February. The country’s largest car manufacturer sold 1.17 lakh vehicles in month gone by, down 0.9 percent compared to year-ago period.

February sales were impacted by Jat stir while maintenance shutdown for a week hit January sales growth.

“During the month, reservation agitation in Haryana had disrupted component supplies, causing a temporary suspension of production. Total production loss due to this was over 10,000 units,” says Maruti in its filing on Tuesday.

The company was able to achieve marginal growth in domestic sales despite this agitation.

Domestic sales increased 0.2 percent year-on-year to 1.08 lakh units while exports declined 12.4 percent to 9,336 units in same period.

Passenger cars sales were hit by Alto & WagonR (down 11.2 percent) and Ciaz (sales down 4.6 percent).

Dzire Tour cars (which comes under super compact segment) sales growth was 38 percent in February while compact car segment (Swift, Ritz, Dzire, Celerio and Baleno) registered only 0.4 percent growth on yearly basis.

Utility vehicles sales increased 44.7 percent year-on-year to 8,484 units, majorly led by S-Cross (launched in August 2015) and Ertiga.

Eicher Motors on hot wheels

Eicher Motors maintained its strong sales growth. It has registered a 63 percent year-on-year growth in Royal Enfield sales at 49,156 units, majorly led by models with engine capacity upto 350cc.

Eicher sold 43,741 units of Royal Enfield with engine capacity upto 350cc, higher by 65 percent compared to corresponding month of last year. Sales growth of models with engine capacity of more than 350cc was 45 percent at 5,415 units while exports increased 112 percent to 1589 units, the company said.

Commercial vehicle sales increased 57.2 percent year-on-year to 5,032 units in month gone by.

Ashok Leyland misses estimates

Ashok Leyland has sold 13,403 commercial vehicles in February, higher by 25 percent compared to corresponding period of last year. Sales were lower than Nomura estimates of 17,700 vehicles.

Medium and heavy commercial vehicle sales increased 31 percent year-on-year to 10,798 units while light commercial vehicle sales growth was 3 percent at 2,605 units in same period.

M&M improves sales

Utility vehicle manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra said its sales grew by 16 percent to 44,002 vehicles in February, driven by passenger and commercial vehicle segments.

Passenger vehicle segment (utility vehicles, cars and vans) registered a 26 percent growth and commercial vehicles 16 percent but exports declined 15 percent to 2,654 vehicles compared to year-ago period.

On Monday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (in his Union Budget) proposed 1-4 percent infra cess for passenger vehicles. It would increase prices of automotive products immediately, says Pravin Shah, president & chief executive (automotive) of M&M.

M&M said its tractor sales increased 18.7 percent year-on-year to 13,574 units in February, led by domestic business that registered a 24 percent growth.

Rajesh Jejurikar (president & chief executive – farm equipment & two-wheeler) of M&M says he believes that increased allocation for agriculture and rural infrastructure in Union Budget coupled with increased MSP for Rabi crops would generate positive sentiment & drive growth going forward.”

TVS Motor’s exports disappoint

TVS Motor Company has registered a 7 percent growth in sales at 2.19 lakh units compared to year-ago period, driven by domestic 2-wheeler sales that grew by 11.4 percent.

“Total two wheeler sales increased by 8 percent from 195,509 units recorded in February 2015 to 211,148 units in February 2016. Scooter sales grew by 18.2 percent increasing from 56,750 units in February 2015 to 67,089 units in February 2016. Motorcycles recorded 3.8 percent growth with sales increasing from 74,292 units in the month of February 2015 to 77,093 units in February 2016,” the company explained.

The company’s total exports registered sales of 34,804 units in February, down 10.1 percent compared to 38,725 units sold in same month last year.

Hero Motocorp rebounds

Hero Motocorp ‘s two-wheeler sales grew by 13.6 percent year-on-year to 5.5 lakh units in February.

MHCV supports Tata Motors

Total sales of Tata Motors passenger and commercial vehicles (including exports) were at 46,674 vehicles in February 2016, higher by 6 percent over 44,233 vehicles sold in February 2015.

“Tata Motors continued to witness year-on-year growth in medium & heavy commercial vehicle segment in February, with a growth of 22 percent,” says the Tata Group firm, adding passenger vehicles sales declined 20 percent to 10,962 units.

Overall commercial vehicles sales in domestic market increased by 15 percent to 30,570 units, growth in light commercial vehicle, supplementing already prevailing MHCV growth.

Company’s sales from exports were 5,142 units in February 2016, higher by 31 percent compared to 3,911 vehicles in February 2015.

Escorts disappoints

Escorts tractor sales declined 4.8 percent to 3280 units in month gone gone by compared to 3444 units sold in year-ago period, impacted by domestic sales that fell 3.9 percent to 3,190 units in same period.

Atul Auto retains growth

Gujarat-based three-wheeler manufacturer Atul Auto has registered a 3.2 percent growth by selling 3,510 units in February.

In the financial year, so far, it sold 40,590 vehicles, higher by 5.77 percent compared to 38,376 vehicles sold in same period last year.