Hyundai zips past Tata Motors

In April-May period this fiscal, the company has lost its position to Korean car maker Hyundai Motor as the second largest car seller in the country.

The company sold 37,991 units in the passenger vehicle category selling models like the Indica, Indigo, Indigo Marina, Winger, Sumo and Safari in the first two months of this year. Hyundai sold 46,011 units during the same period preceded by Maruti Suzuki.

Tata Motors share in the compact car segment declined to 15.78 per cent in 2007-08 from 19.21 per cent recorded a year ago, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam).

Its Indigo's share slumped to 13.91 per cent as against 17.42 per cent recorded in the two comparable periods.

Experts attribute the company's drop in sales to the delay in launching new vehicles like the Indica and the Indigo, which were supposed to be introduced in the market last year.

The loss in demand for Tata-badged vehicles was capitalised by other companies like Hyundai and General Motors-owned brand Chevrolet.

"The company hasn't launched any significant model for a long time, even as the demand for its outdated models including the Indica and Indigo is on a drastic decline," said a city-based auto analyst.