Domestic automobile sales were on the growth path last month (October). Most of the major players in different segments logged growth over the corresponding month of the previous year, and experts are confident the trend is expected to continue. However, lower exports dragged down the overall sales of major players in the passenger car segment.
Passenger car and two-wheeler sales continue to grow. This is backed by positive customer sentiments and better in-hand cash flows to support their discretionary spending. Overall, we should see good growth this year in all the vehicle categories,” said Abdul Majeed, Partner- Price Waterhouse and an auto expert. According to him, medium and heavy commercial vehicles will bounce back once the demand for freight movement picks up.
India’s largest passenger car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, said it closed last month selling 133,793 units (domestic 123,764 units, exports 10,029 units) against 134,209 units (domestic 121,063 units, exports 13,146 units) sold during October 2015. The company saw sales decline in its mini (Alto, WagonR), compact (Swift, Ritz, Celerio, Baleno, Dzire), super-compact (Dzire Tour), and van (Omni, Eeco) segments. Still, on the other hand, sales of its utility vehicles (Gypsy, Ertiga, S-Cross, Vitara, Brezza) zoomed to 18,008 units last month, with 9,435 units sold in October 2015.
Similarly, Hyundai Motor India Ltd said it sold 64,372 units (domestic 50,016 units, exports 14,356 units) in October, up from 61,701 units (domestic 47,105 units, exports 14,686 units) sold during October 2015. With a highest-ever domestic volume of 50,016 units, Hyundai registered record cumulative sales of 64,372 units in October 2016. Hyundai achieved the highest and fastest domestic sales of 50,000 units within 15 months from the earlier milestone of 40,000 units,” MD and CEO Y.K. Koo said in the statement.
Nissan Motor India reported domestic sales of 6,108 vehicles versus 3,246 units sold in October 2015. On its part, Tata Motors Ltd said it sold 16,311 passenger vehicles, up from 12,747 units sold during October 2015. Tata Motors closed last month with a total sales of 52,813 units against 43,486 units sold during the corresponding period of the previous year. A smaller player in the Indian car market, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, sold 5,534 units last month compared to 3,255 units in the prior year.
In the two-wheeler segment, high-capacity motorbike maker Eicher Motors Ltd increased its sales volumes by 33 percent to 59,127 units compared to 44,522 units sold in October 2015. The bulk of the sales for Eicher Motors came from two-wheelers with engine capacity up to 350 ccs (55,188 units), while vehicles with more than 350cc engine capacity accounted for 3,939 units sold last month. Commercial vehicles major Ashok Leyland sold 12,533 units, up from 9,803 in October 2015. The other major commercial vehicle player, Tata Motors, logged 15 percent growth, selling 30,169 units last month.
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