Car sales in India rose an annual 38% in July 2010 to a record 158,764 units, compared with 115,084 units a year ago, as per the latest data. Sales of trucks and buses, a barometer of economic activity, rose an annual 37% to 51,481 units in July 2010. Motorcycle sales in July 2010 rose to 7,10,621 units from 546,233 units a year earlier.

In other news affecting the leather industry. The Reserve Bank of India on August 10 extended the interest subsidy scheme of two percentage points on rupee export credit to additional sectors including leather and leather product manufacturers. The subvention scheme will be available from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011, the Reserve Bank of India said in a notification