Car Sales Fall Again in India

India’s wholesales of cars and light-duty trucks shrank year-on-year in September for the third consecutive month, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.

The trade group says wholesales of passenger vehicles last month dropped 6% to 292,700 units, including an 8% decline to 77,400 SUV/crossovers. Analysts blame rising fuel prices and the timing of festivals contributed to the decline.

But domestic sales of commercial trucks and buses, which are considered an indicator of India’s economic health, jumped 24% to 95,900 units in September.

SIAM says sales to dealers through the first half of the fiscal year that began in April totaled 1.17 million units, up 7%. The group predicts an upturn in the second half of the fiscal year will result in a 12-month gain of 9%-10%.