CHENNAI, Oct 6: Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) continues to race ahead of the competition. The Maruti Esteem retained the top slot in the luxury segment with sales of 9,259 vehicles in the first half of the current year, way ahead of General Motor India's Opel Astra, which clocked a sales of 5475 vehicles during the six-month period. Mahindra Ford India (MFIL) sold over 4,400 Escorts.

Daewoo Motor India witnessed a sharp 48 per cent drop in its Cielo sales. The company sold about 5,400 Cielos in the first half of the current year as against a sales of 10,251 in the year-ago period. Daewoo's dealers are reportedly offering hefty cash discounts to boost sagging sales.

Sales of the Esteem had dropped to a low of 817 vehicles in July due to a snag in production, arising out of bumper modifications. The car, however, has now made a strong comeback with a sales of 2,123 vehicles in August and 1,774 vehicles in September.

Mahindra Ford's sales had shot up to a high of over 1,000 Escorts in July as a result of its Freedom offer. However, the company has faltered since then with sales of less than 600 Escorts in August and September. The model, however, continues to do well in the south Indian markets.

The initial response to its anniversary offer has been lukewarm at the retail level, sources say. Company sources, however, indicate that all anniversary cars have already been booked by its dealers. `The offer has been open only for a week now. It is too early to gauge the retail response,'' a company official said.

General Motor's sales were consistent during the last six months. After steady sales of 800-900 Opel Astras in the first five months of the current year, the company sold 1,107 vehicles in September. The higher sales can be attributed to the depreciation benefits. General Motors India apart, luxury car manufacturers have been unable to cash in on the rush to avail themselves of depreciation benefits.September sales of both Esteem and Cielo were lower than their respective August figures.

Mahindra Ford's sales last month just about managed to overtake its August figures. Maruti had set a sales target of about 2,200 for September, but managed to sell only 1,774. Daewoo, which had sold 2,248 Cielos in September, 1996, sold about 800 last month.

Maruti sold 17,188 units of its popular 800 cc model in September. With this its 800cc sales in the first half of the current year has come close to the 95,000 mark, against the full year's target of 1,80,000 units.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.