Tata Motors reported a record sale of 582,401 vehicles (including exports) for the fiscal year 2007-08, its highest ever and a growth of 1% over 578,862 vehicles sold in 2006-07. Total sales (including exports) for the month of March 2008 were 66,495 nos., the company’s highest ever monthly sales and an increase of 6% over 62,779 nos. sold in March 2007.
Commercial Vehicles
The company’s sales of commercial vehicles in March 2008 in the domestic market were 35,993 nos., an increase of 17% over 30,720 vehicles sold in March last year. M&HCV; sales stood at 20,639 nos., an increase of 17% over March last year. LCV sales were at 15,354 nos., an increase of 18% over March last year. Cumulative sales of commercial vehicles in the domestic market for the fiscal were 313,371 nos., an increase of 5% over last year, also the highest ever.
M&HCV; cumulative sales were 166,037 nos., while LCV sales for the period were 147,334 nos. During the year, Tata Motors launched the Magic and Winger, creating new segments in urban and rural passenger transportation. It also introduced a new M&HCV; range of multi-axle trucks, heavy-duty trucks, tractor- trailers and tippers and fully-built solutions like tip-trailers and load bodies.
Passenger Vehicles
The passenger vehicle business reported total monthly sales of 24,737 nos. in the domestic market in March 2008, its highest this fiscal but a decline of 4% over 25,760 vehicles sold in March last year. The Indica sold 13,042 nos., a decline of 14.7% over March 2007. The Indigo family registered sales of 5,135 nos., an increase of 18% over March 2007 and its highest ever monthly sales. Utility Vehicles sales at 6,560 nos. registered a growth of 7.4%. Cumulative sales of passenger vehicles in the domestic market for the fiscal were 214,758 nos., a decline of 5% over the previous year. The cumulative sales of Indica were 135,642 nos., a decline of 6% over the previous year.
Despite the decline, the Indica remained an industry bestseller and ended the year as the second largest selling model in the industry. The Indigo family posted sales of 31,416 nos., a decline of 8% but continued to be the largest selling entry mid size range five years in a row. The Sumo and Safari accounted for sales of 47,700 nos. in the fiscal, registering flat growth. Safari sales at 19,078 nos. have been highest for any fiscal since launch and have grown by 21%.
During the year, Tata Motors crossed the millionth passenger car production milestone off the Indica platform, in its ninth year since the commencement of production in January 1999. ExportsThe company exported 5,765 vehicles in March 2008 as compared to 6,299 vehicles in March last year, a decline of 8.5%. The cumulative sales from exports during the year were 54,272 nos., an increase of 3% over 52,796 vehicles sold last year.
