Motown musings

September proved to be a month of mixed fortunes for the Indian automotive industry, with most of the country’s top auto makers such as Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hyundai Motor and General Motors taking a hit on their volumes. However, Maruti Suzuki and the Indian units of Toyota Motor and Ford Motor clocked higher sales.
Sales at Suzuki Motor Co’s India unit rose 11.7% to 1,04,964 units. The rise, however, was led by more than a three-fold surge in its exports sales to 14,565 units on a low base. Local sales at India’s biggest passenger car maker by sales rose just 1.8%, showing the slowdown in the economy is still weighing down consumer demand.
India’s auto makers have been struggling with lower volumes as a muted rise in personal income levels keeps customers away from showrooms. The rise in fuel prices and borrowing rates too has added to their woes. Still, auto makers hope the onset of the festive season from this month would lead to a spurt in sales.
Tata Motors’ sales for the month slumped 34% to 50,427 units. Domestic sales fell 35% to 45,998 units, while exports were down 19% at 4,429 units.
Mahindra & Mahindra, India’s largest maker of sports utility vehicles, sold 43,289 units in September, down 10% on year, with domestic sales falling 10% and exports 12%. Volumes at Hyundai Motor, Maruti’s rival and the number 2 in passenger car sales, fell 4% to 51,418 cars.
The local unit of General Motors reported a close to 5% decline in its sales at 7,048 units in September 2013. Sales at Toyota Kirloskar rose 9% to 15,795 units, while volumes at Ford India rose 51% to 14,217 vehicles. Two-wheeler dispatches for Hero Moto-Corp rose 16% to 4,68,670 units. TVS Motor sold 197,409 vehicles during the month, also showing a 16% rise on year.