JOIN USCar manufacturers in India were a thoughtful lot on Friday as they announced their sales figures for the month of February. Many of them registered a fall in sales, requiring them to relook strategies and marketing plans to reclaim their share in the crowded Indian car market.
The country’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) reported 7.89 per cent decline in its total sales at 1,09,567 units in February 2013.
The company had sold 1,18,949 units in the corresponding month last year, MSI said. Its exports, however, went up by 2.80 per cent to 11,612 units last month from 11,296 units in the year-ago period, the company said.
Tata Motors also reported 32.70 per cent decline in total vehicle sales at 61,998 units for February 2013.The company had sold 92,119 units in the same month last year, Tata Motors said.The total passenger vehicle sales in the domestic market stood at 10,613 units in February, down 69.53 per cent from 34,832 units in the same month last year.
The company’s exports decreased by 26.20 per cent to 3,996 units last month from 5,415 units in the same month last year, it added.
Japanese Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) also reported 26.49 per cent fall in its domestic sales for February 2013 at 6,510 units, having sold sold 8,856 units in the same month last year. The company exported a total of 510 units during February 2013.
HCI’s compatriot Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) reported 23.43 per cent decrease in domestic sales at 12,756 units in February 2013 as compared to 16,659 units in February 2012, according to its press statement. During the month, the company exported 1,223 units of Etios series to South Africa. Hence, the total sales registered in February this year stood at 13,979 units.
Certain American carmakers too had to contend with lower sales. General Motors India (GM) sold 7,106 vehicles in the month of February 2013 against 8,901 units sold in February 2012. Ford India also reported 30.42 per cent decline in its total sales in February this year at 7,253 units, having sold a total of 10,424 units in the same month last year.
Domestic sales declined 44.12 per cent to 4,490 units as against 8,035 units in February 2012. It exported 2,763 units compared to 2,389 units in February 2012.
Reason to smile
While many companies were in reverse gear, trying to regain their footing, few bucked the trend by managing to register growth.
Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), the country’s second largest car manufacturer and the largest passenger car exporter, registered a modest 5.4 per cent growth. The domestic sales accounted for 34,002 units compared to 36,805 units in February 2012. Exports accounted for 20,663 units in February 2013.
SUV major Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (M&M) declared 11 per cent growth in its auto sales numbers, which stood at 47,824 units during February 2013 as against 43,087 units during February 2012. The passenger vehicles segment grew 14 per cent at 23,421 units in February 2013, as against 20,573 in February 2012. The company’s domestic sales stood at 44,399 units, as against 40,461 units during February 2012.
Renault India sales grew nine-fold on year-on-year basis at 6,723 units in February 2013.