Car Sales April 2019: Japanese multinational automobile conglomerate Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) posted a massive jump in its sales figures in India with monthly domestic sales of 11,272 units for the month of April 2019 registering a growth of 23 per cent against the sale of units in the same month last year. “HCIL’s April sales growth is primarily due to lower base effect, as there was no Amaze in corresponding month last year during model runout. The ongoing elections and overall subdued market sentiment continues to affect the sales momentum,” said Rajesh Goel, Senior Vice President and Director, Sales and Marketing, HCIL. The company also said that it has exported a total of 220 units in April, 2019.

“Going forward, the industry is heading towards a tougher year impacting sales due to volatility in fuel prices, increase in car prices owing to new regulations and stricter inventory control for smooth switch over to BS6 regime by year end,” Goel added further. The carmaker had registered monthly domestic sales of 17,202 units in March 2019, as compared to 13,574 units in the corresponding month last year, registering a growth of 27 per cent.

However, another automobile giant Maruti Suzuki India’s total sales for the April declined by over 17 per cent compared to the same month last year. Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Wednesday reported 17.2 per cent decline in sales at 1,43,245 units in April. The company had sold 1,72,986 units in April last year, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a statement.

Domestic sales declined by 18.7 per cent at 1,34,068 units last month as against 1,64,978 units in the year-ago month, the statement added. Sales of mini cars comprising Alto were at 22,766 units as compared to 37,794 units in April last year, down 39.8 per cent. The company also stated that sales of compact segment, including models such as Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire, were down 13.9 per cent at 72,146 units as against 83,834 units in April last year.

Mid-sized sedan Ciaz sold 2,789 units as compared to 5,116 units in the same month a year ago. Utility vehicles, including Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga were up 5.9 per cent at 22,035 units as compared to 20,804 units in the year-ago month, MSI said. Exports in April were up by 14.6 per cent at 9,177 units as against 8,008 units in the corresponding month last year, the company said.