The passenger vehicles sales grew 20.58 per cent between April and August this year with 5, 19,842 units being sold when compared to 4, 31,116 units in the same period last year. However, passenger car sales rose 16.01 per cent in the local market in August to 83,844 units from 72,272 units in August 2005, according to the recent data released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Hero Honda’s market share that stood at 51.6 per cent in April-August 2005 has fallen to 47.3 per cent in the equivalent period this year. This is due to rivals initiation new models and closing in as well as a general shift towards 125 cc motorcycles.