Tata Motors retains No. 2 position in domestic passenger vehicle market

Tata Motors has reported a total sale of 3,14,256 vehicles (including exports) for the fiscal year 2003-04, a growth of 42.9 per cent over the 2,19,865 vehicles sold in the corresponding period last year. These are the highest-ever figures achieved by the company in a fiscal year. The total sales for the month of March this year were 34,714 units, an increase of 26 per cent over the 27,547 units sold in March 2003.

Commercial vehicles
The company sold 17,803 vehicles in March 2004, an increase of 51.2 per cent over 11,772 vehicles sold in March last year. Both medium and heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCV) and light commercial vehicles (LCV) showed a robust growth, recording sales of 12,279 and 5,524 vehicles respectively. Tata Motors reported cumulative sales of 1,52,282 vehicles in the domestic market during the fiscal, representing an increase of 43.7 per cent over the 1,05,960 vehicles sold in last fiscal.

The company sold 10,810 M&HCV trucks in March this year, a gain of 62.8 per cent over 6,637 vehicles sold in March 2003. Cumulative sales of M&HCV trucks stood at 89,705 vehicles, an increase of 39.8 per cent. LCV sales in March 2004 were 5,524 units, an increase of 51.6 per cent over March sales last year. The company sold 49,026 LCV's this fiscal, representing a growth of 50.8 per cent over the 32,510 vehicles sold last year.

Passenger vehicles
The company registered its highest sales in the domestic market in the month of March with a sale of 15,065 passenger vehicles. Cumulative sales of 1,40,023 vehicles, grew by 34.4 per cent and are the highest-ever for the business in its fifth financial year. All four Tata models recorded significant gains in their segments. The company retained its position as the second largest player in terms of sales in the domestic market.

The Indica and Indigo registered a sale of 11,110 vehicles in March. Cumulative sales of the Indica and the Indigo stood at 1,08,169 cars for the fiscal — a growth of 36.3 per cent. The Indigo continues to hold the leadership position in its segment for the period. The year also saw the cumulative sales of the Indica cross the 3,17,000 sales mark, since its launch. In the utility vehicle segment, the company had its best year in six years and the third best-ever with a sale of 31,854 vehicles. Sumo and Safari sales grew at the rate of 28.2 per cent. March sales, at 3,955 vehicles, were the highest for any month in the last six years. The Sumo emerged as the best seller in the utility vehicle segment in each of the three months of the January-March quarter and retained its position as the second largest selling model in the segment for the fiscal. The Safari registered its second-best yearly sales since its launch in 1998, and is currently the largest selling sports utility vehicle in the Rs 7 lakh plus price band.

Exports
Export sales for the month of March 2004 were 1,846 vehicles, an increase of 31.1 per cent over the 1,408 vehicles exported in March last year. The cumulative export sales for the year 2003-04 were 21,951 vehicles, an increase of 126.2 per cent over the 9,704 vehicles sold last year.