Car exports up 47 pc; Bikes 39 pc

New Delhi: A welcome reversal in the numbers of Maruti Udyog and a strong performance by Hyundai India saw car exports from India begin the new fiscal with a strong 47 per cent growth at 15,497 units.

According to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Maruti Udyog Ltd reported a export growth of 27.5 per cent in overseas sales at 1,553 units, reversing a long run of decline.

In fact, the company's export shipments last fiscal were down about 30 per cent.

Korean car company Hyundai's India subsidiary continued its stellar performance.

The company, which has made India the hub for small cars, saw shipments going up by 65.4 per cent to 10,842 units.

Tata Motors also saw its passenger car exports climb about 17 per cent at 1,142 units in April 2006 against 977 units in the corresponding month last year.

On the two wheeler side, bikes exports continued their healthy run even as scooter and moped numbers dropped.

Bike exports in April grew 39 per cent at 39,348 units against 28,272 units in the same month last year.

Bajaj Auto more than doubled its bike exports to 22,707 units against 11,148 units in April 2005 while Hero Honda posted a 10 per cent growth in overseas sales.

TVS Motors, however, saw a marginal fall in numbers as 4,589 units against 4,617 units in April last year.

Overall two wheeler exports during the period grew 21.51 per cent to 47,950 units compared to 39,462 units last year.

Scooter exports fell 25 per cent at 5,205 (6,946) while mopeds saw exports fall 20 per cent at 3,397 units against 4,244 units in April 2005.

Commercial vehicle exports in April were up 26.5 per cent at 2,847 units against 2,251 units in the same month last year.

Led by Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, Medium and heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) segment saw numbers going by 28 per cent at 907 units.

On the other hand, light commercial unit exports grew 25.8 per cent at 1,940 units.

Three-wheeler exports grew by 38.1 per cent at 9,276 units against 6,714 units in April 2005.

Total automobile exports during the month of April grew 28.3 per cent at 75,917 units against 59,132 units in the corresponding month last year, SIAM said.