Maruti May sales rise 26 per cent to 53,396 units

Maruti Udyog has reported total sales of 53,396 units for the month of May 2006, including exports of 2,492 units, as compared to 42,286 units during the same month of pervious year - an increase of 26.27 per cent.

The company saw strong growth in the premium hatchback segment. Sales of models like Alto, Wagon R, Zen and Swift increased by 38.56 per cent to 36,066 units for the month as compared to 26,030 during May 2005.

Maruti managed a modest rise in volume sales of entry level model Maruti - 800. The model sold 6,743 units during the month as compared to 6,116 units for May 2005.

In the passenger van segment, the company's models Omni and Versa saw a marginal decline to 5,295 units as compared to 5,435 units for May 2005.

Sales of mid-sized sedans like the Esteem and Baleno increased by 9.93 per cent to 2,458 units as compared to 2,236 units for May 2005.

Total domestic sales for the month increased by 27.24 per cent to 50,904 units from 40,006 units a year ago. Exports also inched up by 9.3 per cent to 2,492 units as compared to 2,280 units during the same month of previous year.

For the first two months of 2006-07, sales have increased 19.94 per cent to 96,523 units as compared to 80,476 units for the same period of previous financial year. Domestic sales increased 20.14 per cent while export sales improved by 15.64 per cent.

During April-May 2006, sales of premium hatchbacks increased by 32.94 per cent. Sales of Maruti-800 declined 4 per cent during this period while mid-sized sedan sales increased 7.09 per cent.