Tata Motors sales rise in April

Indian vehicle manufacturer Tata Motors has reported an 11% rise in total vehicle sales during April.

Tata sold a total of 40,486 vehicles (including exports) during the month of April 2007, a growth of 11 % over the 36,574 vehicles sold in April last year. The company said vehicle sales in the domestic market were impacted, in varying degrees between the commercial and passenger vehicles segments, due to the high interest rate regime affecting retails.

The company's commercial vehicle sales in its domestic market were down at 19,607 during April, compared to the 19,674 vehicles sold in April last year. The sales of M&HCV products, which witnessed shortfalls in some critical components, stood at 10,392 units, a decline of 14% over April 2006. LCV sales grew by 22% over April 2006, reaching 9,215 units.

Tata said its passenger vehicles business reported a total sale of 16,842 vehicles in the domestic market in April 2007, an increase of 26% over April 2006. The Indigo family registered sales of 2,632 units, an increase of 2%. The Sumo and Safari accounted for sales of 3,340 units, an increase of 49% over April last year. Safari sales at 1474 units grew by 269%.

The company's sales from exports were 4,037 vehicles in April 2007 as compared to 3,572 vehicles in April 2006, an increase of 13%, driven mainly by commercial vehicles.