Maruti, Hyundai see good sales in April

The Indian car market’s order book witnessed a mixed bag in April, with leaders Maruti and Hyundai managing to garner impressive sales, while a few manufacturers saw some decline.

The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) reported 14.4% increase in total sales at 1,72,986 units in April, against 1,51,215 units in the year-ago month.

The company’s domestic sales stood at 1,64,978 units, up 14.2% from 1,44,492 units in April last year.

Sales of mini segment cars, including Alto and WagonR, witnessed a 2.8% decline to 37,794 units during the month, under review from 38,897 units in April 2017, while sales of the compact segment comprising Swift, Estilo, Dzire and Baleno jumped by 31.8% to 83,834 units last month, against 63,584 units in the year-ago month.

Exports in April this year were up 19.1% to 8,008 units, compared with 6,723 units in the same month last year.

Rival Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) reported 6% increase in total sales at 59,744 units in April 2018. The company had sold 56,368 units in April last year.

Domestic sales rose 4.4% to 46,735 units last month, compared with 44,758 units in April 2017.

Exports grew 12% in April at 13,009 units, against 11,610 units in the year-ago month.

Tata Motors performance

Tata Motors posted a whopping 86% jump in domestic sales at 53,511 units in April, led by strong sales in the commercial and passenger vehicle segments.

The company had sold 28,844 units during the same month last year.

PV sales stood at 17,235 units last month, compared with 12,827 units in April 2017, up 34%. Exports last month stood at 3,010 units, up 41% over last year.

Meanwhile, Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s sales declined 1.4% to 13,871 units in April compared to the same month a year ago. Toyota Kirloskar sold a total of 13,037 units in the domestic market in April and exported 834 units of the Etios series, thereby clocking a total of 13,871 units, the company said in a statement.

Fortuner and Innova Crysta continue to maintain a strong position in the market as undisputed segment leaders.
Ford India posted 39.23% decline in total sales at 15,281 units in April, against 25,149 units in the same month last year.

The company said its domestic sales stood at 7,428 units in April, against 7,618 units in the year-ago month, down 2.49%.

Exports stood at 7,853 units last month as compared to 17,531 units in April 2017, a dip of 55.2%.