Maruti Suzuki India Limited, leading automakers in India, suffered lower sales both where domestic sales and exports were concerned. Total sales dipped 3.4% to 1,58,189 units during the month of August 2018 as compared to sales of 1,63,701 units in August 2017. Taking domestic sales and exports into account, domestic sales fell 2.8% to 1,47,700 units in September 2018 as compared to sales of 1,52,000 units sold in the same month of the previous year. Exports on the other hand fell by 10.4% to just 10,489 units as compared to 11,701 units exported in August 2017.
In domestic markets, sales of models such as the Alto and WagonR increased marginally by 1.3% from 35,428 units sold in August 2017 to 35,895 units sold in the past month. However, sales of Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and DZire dipped b 3.6% from 74,012 units sold in August 2017 to 71,364 units sold last month. Ciaz sales increased from 6,457 units in August 2017 to 7,002 units while sales of UVs Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga were down 16.2% at 17,971 units in August 2018 as compared to sales of 21,442 units in August 2017.
Hyundai Motors India registered 3.4% growth in sales in August 2018 with a total of 61,912 units sold during the month as compared to 59,905 units sold in the same month of the previous year. Domestic sales saw a marginal decrease by 2.8% with 45,801 units sold as compared to 47,103 units sold in the same month of the past fiscal. Exports increased significantly by 25.8% from 12,802 units exported in August 2017 to 16,111 units exported in the past month. Strong performance of Grand i10, new Elite i20 and new 2018 Creta contributed to this increase. A total of INR 1 crore was also donated by the company to the Kerala’s Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund.
Mahindra Cars has also registered increased sales during August 2017. Overall sales increased by 14% with a total of 48,324 units sold in the past month as compared to 42,207 units exported in the same period of the previous year. Domestic sales were up 15% to 45,373 units. Passenger car sales stood at 19,758 units in August 2018 as compared to 19,405 units sold in August 2017. UV sales on the other hand dipped by 2% from 18,255 units sold in August 2017 to 17,892 units sold in the past month. Exports stood at 2,951 units in August 2018, a growth of 14% over exports in the same period last year.
Honda Cars India having reported impressive sales in July this year has not reported a dip in sales in August 2018 by 2%, primarily affected due to Kerala floods and price increase across all models. Honda Car sales stood at 17,020 units in the past month as compared to sales of 17,635 units sold in August 2017.
Tata Motors has also received increased sales in August 2018 driven by the recently launched Hexa and Nexon. The company reported a 27% increase in domestic sales which stood at 58,262 units in August 2018 as against 45,906 units sold in the same month of the previous year. Domestic sales of passenger vehicles increased 28% to 18,420 units as compared to 14,340 units sold in August 2017 while sales in the commercial segment also surged 26% with 39,859 units sold in August 2018 as compared to 31,566 units sold in August 2017. With these impressive sales, Tata Motors is now India’s 4th largest automaker behind Maruti Suzuki (158,189 units), Hyundai (35,895 units), Mahindra (19,758 units), while the company has replaced Honda Cars India, which sold 17,020 cars last month.
Toyota Kirloskar Motors sales were driven up 11.47%, thanks to increased demand for the Toyota Innova Crysta and Fortuner. During the past month, the company sold a total of 14,100 units in domestic markets as compared to 12,017 units sold in August 2017. Exports also surged to a total of 14,581 units in August 2017 with the Etios series receiving most attention.
Ford India sales, both domestic and exports increased 23.76% in August 2018. A total of 20,648 units were sold in the past month as against 15,740 units sold in August 2017. Domestic sales increased 3.41% from 7,777 units sold in August 2017 to 8,042 units sold in August 2018 while exports surged 36.83% from 7,963 units in August 2017 to 12,606 units in the past month. Ford India also contributed INR 1.6 crores to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Fund while the company has offered special Ford Road Side Assistance and free towing of impacted vehicles in the state of Kerala.
