Tracks

Dec 28, 2011 (LBO) - India's Tata and Maruti brands is leading Sri Lanka's vehicles market taking a lion's share of both automobile and trucks, data compiled by a Colombo based stock brokerage shows.



In November 1,348 Maruti cars were registered in a market where about 4,500 to 5,000 cars are registered each month, data from Sri Lanka's motor vehicle registry published by JB Stockbrokers showed.

The best selling model was Maruti Alto with 778 units.

In the truck market where about 3,000 units are sold, Tata sold 1,484 units in November.

The best selling unit was TATA Ace, a small truck popularly known as Dimo Batta, after its local agents, Diesel and Motor Engineering Company.

In November 930 Tata Ace units were registered, slightly down from 1,073 in October.

The truck is popular with small entrepreneurs who hire it out or use it in their own business.

According to the JB Stockbrokers data out of 9,229 trucks sold during the 11-months of 2011 9,229 or 32.6 percent were Tata Ace and the brand had a 49.

7 percent share or 14,071 units when other models were added. Separately Tata also sold 349 automobiles in December.

Motor vehicles are a key import from India to Sri La