New Delhi–Indian automobile manufacturers saw higher sales in September as new models, healthy monsoon rains and positive effects of the seventh pay commission pushed customers to replace their old vehicles.
“Positive customer sentiments and festival seasons will drive the growth. New models are surely pushing customers to replace their old vehicles,” said Abdul Majeed, partner with Price Waterhouse.
“Post the festive season, growth across segments to a large extent will depend on the increase in private investments and growth in the overall economy.”
Passenger cars, utility vehicles and two wheeler manufacturers reported positive sales growth for last month.
Automobile major Maruti Suzuki India reported a 31.1 per cent increase in its total sales for last month.
According to the company, its total sales during the month under review stood at 149,143 units from 113,759 units sold in the like period of last year.
“At 149,143 units, the company posted its highest ever total sales in September. In addition, this is also the company’s highest ever domestic monthly sales,” the automobile manufacturer said in a statement.
For last month, the company’s domestic sales surged by 29.4 per cent to 137,321 units from 106,083 units sold during the corresponding period of 2015.
In addition, exports zoomed by 54 per cent with 11,822 units shipped out — from 7,676 units sold abroad in September last year.
Another automobile major Tata Motors passenger and commercial vehicle sales including exports in September increased by eight per cent to 48,648 vehicles from 45,215 vehicles sold in the like month of 2015.
The company’s domestic sales of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles for the month under review rose by five per cent to 42,961 units. Exports during September zoomed by 29 per cent to 5,687 units.
Automobile manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra’s (M&M) reported an increase of eight per cent in its total sales during the month under review.
The company sold 46,130 vehicles last month compared to 42,848 vehicles during the corresponding period of 2015.
“We are happy to have achieved an 11 per cent growth during the first six months of the current financial in spite of the various uncertainties and challenges,” said Pravin Shah, President and Chief Executive (Automotive), M&M.
“Our exports during the six month period have seen a good growth of 18 per cent.”
Domestic sales rose by seven per cent to 42,545 units, from 39,693 units sold in September last year.
The company’s exports surged by 14 per cent to 3,585 units from 3,155 units shipped-out during September 2015.
Ford India’s total sales grew marginally to 22,590 units last month in comparison to 22,428 units sold in September 2015.
“Good monsoons, the seventh pay commission and reasonable inflation are helping drive the Indian automotive industry,” said Anurag Mehrotra, Executive Director-Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford India.
Indo-Japanese joint venture (JV) Toyota Kirloskar Motor reported a six per cent growth in its domestic sales for last month.
The JV firm sold a total of 12,067 units in the domestic market.
However, Japanese car maker Honda Cars India logged lower sales volume last month. The company sold a total of 15,439 units as against 18,509 units sold in September 2015.
In the two-wheeler space, India Yamaha Motor’s sales during September grew to 89,423 units from 67,267 units sold in the corresponding period of last year.
The company said the figures included sales in the domestic market, including Nepal.
According to the statement, the company exported 11,730 units (excluding Nepal) last month.
