Renault India's sales decline 4% to 3,733 units in August

Renault India today reported a 4.6 per cent decline in August sales at 3,733 units as compared to 3,916 units for the same period a year ago, owing to rise in inflation, interest rates, fuel price and the rupee depreciation.

Despite challenging conditions in the automotive market, Renault India achieved sales of 45,986 units during January-August 2013, growing over four-fold year-on-year, Renault India said in a statement.

"Macro-economic factors such as inflation, rising interest rates, high fuel prices, unstable stock markets and the devaluation of the rupee have been keenly felt in the Indian automobile industry, resulting in decreasing consumer demand and an overall de-growth of 9 per cent so far this year," Renault India executive director, marketing & sales, Sumit Sawhney said.

Renault India sold total 3,733 units in July, with Duster accounting for 2,967 units, Scala 340, Pulse 405, Fluence 11 and Koleos 10.

"The Duster has been our flagship product for just over a year, playing a crucial part not just in Renault's success in India, but also in spearheading the changing landscape of the Indian automobile industry," he said.

"A growth of around 38 per cent in year-on-year Duster sales for July-August shows the continued desirability of the model among Indian customers, despite the shrinking market," Mr. Sawhney added.