The start of the festive season in India should have brought with it increased demand. Instead the month of October saw lukewarm response from buyers – this in spite of the fact that automakers introduced heavy discounts and exchange schemes to lure buyers into company showrooms. Leading automaker Maruti Suzuki reported flat sales along with Toyota India while Ford, Hyundai and Mahindra reported growth.
These lack-luster sales could be attributed to low consumer sentiments, hike in fuel prices, higher interest rates and increase in insurance premium while the floods in Kerala also had an adverse effect on overall sales.
Maruti Suzuki India Limited – The leading automaker in India reported marginal growth and subdued sales in the month of October. During the past month, the company sold a total of 1,38,100 units in domestic markets and accounted for growth of 1.5%. This was against sales of 1,36,000 units sold in October 2017. Exports dipped 17% from 10,446 units exported in October 2017 to 8,666 units exported in the past month. This took total sales up to 1,46,766 units in October 2018 as compared to 1,46,446 units in October 2017. It was the models in the compact segment, such as the Baleno, DZire, Celerio and Swift that saw maximum sales while the Mini segment which includes the Alto and WagonR also received some attention while sales in UV segment, consisting of the S-Cross, Vitara, Ertiga and Gypsy declined.
Hyundai Motors India Limited recorded highest ever domestic sales in October 2018. Domestic sales increased 4.9% and stood at 52,001 units while cumulative sales went up to 65,020 units. Exports increased 3.7% with 13,019 units exported in the past month as compared to 12,551 units exported in October 2017. The new Santro hatchback, launched on October 23 saw sales to the extent of 8,500 units.
Toyota Kirloskar Motors registered 2% increase in domestic sales and dip of 5% in total sales in October 2018. Sales during the past month stood at 12,606 units. Exports were at 639 units in October 2018 as compared to 1,597 units exported in October 2017 registering a dip of 60% while total sales stood at 13,245 units, down 5% as compared to sales of 14,000 units in October 2017. In the company lineup, it was the Innova Crysta that witnessed growth of 11% during the period April to October 2018 as compared to sales within the same period of last year while the Etios Liva also recorded 17% growth during the same 7 month period.
Ford India sales increased 30% in October 2018. Total sales during the month stood at 21,346 units as compared to 15,033 units sold in October 2017. Domestic whole sales increased 53% from 4,218 units sold in October 2017 to 9,044 units while exports increased 12% to 12,302 units in October 2018 as compared to 10,815 units exported in the same month of the previous year. The company also launched the 2018 Aspire facelift in India last month.
Honda Cars India registered flat sales in October 2018. The company sold a total of 14,233 units in the past month as compared to 14,234 units sold in the same month of the previous year while exports stood at 440 units. Cumulative sales, during the period April to October 2018 increased 3% to 1,08,652 units sold as compared to 1,05,503 units sold during the same period of the previous year.
Mahindra saw sales grow by 14% during October 2018 with a total of 58,416 units sold in the past month as compared to domestic sales and exports of 51,160 units sold during October 2017. Domestic sales stood at 55,350 units in October 2018 as against 48,860 units sold in the same month of the previous year resulting in growth of 13%. Passenger vehicle sales increased 3% to 24,066 units as compared to 23,453 units sold in October 2017. In terms of commercial vehicle sales, the company registered growth of 26% with 24,353 units sold.
Tata Motors commercial and passenger vehicle sales in October 2018 increased 18% to 57,710 units as compared to sales of 48,886 units in October 2017. Passenger vehicles segment saw an increase of 11% in sales to 18,290 units – as compared to sales to the extent of 16,475 units achieved in October 2017. Commercial vehicle sales stood at 39,420 units in October 2018, an increase of 22% as compared to sales in October 2017.
