Mahindra & Mahindra July sales down 21.2 per cent

Auto maker Mahindra & Mahindra today reported a 21.17 per cent decrease in its total sales at 37,096 units in July 2013.

The company had sold 47,059 units in the same month in 2012, it said in a statement.

In July this year, domestic sales stood at 34,490 units as against 42,799 units in the same month last year, down 19.41 per cent.

Total sales of passenger vehicles, including Scorpio, XUV500, Xylo, Bolero and Verito, stood at 15,530 units as against 22,011 units in July 2012, down 29.44 per cent.

Sales of the company's commercial vehicles, including Gio and Maxximo mini-trucks, were also down 6.45 per cent at 13,740 units as against 14,688 units in July 2012, it said. Sales of its three-wheelers declined by 12.79 per cent to 4,490 units during July 2013 from 5,149 units in the same month last year.

Exports declined by 38.82 per cent to 2,606 units during the month from 4,260 units in July 2012.

"Over the last few months, the auto industry has been going through one of its worst phases of the last decade with planned shutdowns being taken by companies to correct demand-supply mismatch. The industry is in desperate need for an immediate stimulus from the government" chief executive (automotive division) Pravin Shah said.

He added that with interest rates remaining unchanged and the rupee plunging to new lows, lowering of excise duty is the need of hour which would rev up demand for auto products, leading up to festive season.