Auto Industry Leapfrogs in November

Indian automotive industry is unstoppable at the moment. The growth story is getting better as the sales performance reports pour in month after month. The auto industry carried forward its growth momentum in November as all segments clocked impressive numbers.

Car market leader Maruti Udyog clocked 52,574 units in domestic sales this November as against 43,568 units in November 2005 witnessing a growth of 20.7%. The company's exports numbering 2,459 units, however, recorded a significant fall of 35.7% during the month from 3823 units in November last year. Domestic sales and exports totaling 55,033 units grew by 16.1 %.

Maruti's domestic sales volume in A2 segment (Alto, Wagon-R, Zen, and Swift) climbed up steeply by 32.3% and in C segment (Omni, Versa), by healthy 36.2% during the month compared to sales a year ago. Maruti 800 with its sales at 6,040 units slid further by 18.3% y-o-y during the month, while the sales in MUV segment (Gypsy, Vitara) and A3 segment (Baleno & Esteem) declined by 48.2% and 14.5%, respectively.

Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) sold a total of 4,682 cars (including export of 7 units) in the month of November 2006 registering a hefty growth of 112% over 2,205 units of sale in November previous year.

Cumulative sales of the company during April - November 2006 soared 52.37% to 39,194 units over 25,723 units sold in the corresponding period last year. Model wise sales break-up of HSCI for November 2006 is: City - 2,732; Civic - 1,528; Accord - 195; CRV - 220 units.

South Korean auto major Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) saw a 17.8% growth in its domestic sales during the month of November 2006. HMI sold 16,506 units of all its models in the Indian market during the month as compared to 14,010 units a year back.

Keeping pace with the domestic market growth, the exports of HMIL at 8,426 units also witnessed a rise of 9.2% over the November 2005 export figure of 7,715 units. The cumulative sales for the month of November 2006 stood at 24,932 units - up 14.7% over 21,725 units sold during the corresponding month in CY2005.

Ford India's sales at 3,011 units in November 2006 as compared to 956 units in November 2005 grew by a whopping 215%. Ford India has posted an overall growth of 108% for the period of January to November 2006 by clocking sales figure of 40,077 units as compared to 19,254 units during the same period last year.

Skoda Auto India (P) Ltd witnessed a slight dip in its sales at 900 cars in November 2006 vis-a-vis 909 cars sold a year ago.

General Motors India grew by 11% to reach 2,554 units of sale in November 2006 as compared to 2,303 units in November 2005. The November sales figure comprised 1,651 units of Chevrolet Tavera, 602 units of Chevrolet Aveo and 301 units of Chevrolet Optra.

GM India sales during the period January to November 2006 totaled 33,240 units as against 28,674 units during the same period last year, registering a growth of 16% on a YTD basis.

 
Mahindra & Mahindra managed to clock a growth of 5.2% in its utility vehicle sales in the domestic market in November 2006. Domestic sales of M&M's utility vehicles stood at 6,364 units as compared to 6,047 units in November 2005. Exports, however, declined during the month to 127 units from 189 units a year earlier. Total sales, including domestic sales and exports, of the company's utility vehicles sow a modest growth of 4.08%.

Tata Motors witnessed a total sale of 49,061 vehicles (including exports) in November 2006, registering a healthy growth of 43.1% over 34,282 vehicles sold in November last year. Cumulative sales of TML during April-November 2006 at 3,58,660 units have grown by 32.6%.

TML's Passenger Vehicle Business Unit recorded a sale of 19,475 vehicles in the domestic market in November 2006, an increase of 48.4% over November 2005. The Indica sold 13,047 units, its highest ever sale in a month since launch, registering a growth of 58.1%. The Indigo family registered sales of 2,857 units, up 17.4% over November 2005. The Sumo and Safari together notched up sales of 3,571 units, clocking an impressive growth of 46.4%. Safari sales at 1,143 units grew by nearly three times over November 2005 sales.

The company's commercial vehicles witnessed 25,793 units of sale in November 2006 in the domestic market, going up 45.8% over 17,694 vehicles sold in November 2005. M&HCV sales stood at 14,453 units, recording a healthy growth of 31.7%, while LCV sales at 11,340 units, grew by 68.7% over November 2005.

Cumulative sales of commercial vehicles in the domestic market for the fiscal (April-November 2006) aggregated 1,83,519 units, notching up a growth of 47.1% over the corresponding period last year. Cumulative M&HCV sales stood at 1,05,031 units, an increase of 42.8%, while LCV sales for the period were 78,488 units, up 53.3% over April-November 2005.

Tata Motors exported 3,793 vehicles in November '06 as compared to 3,462 vehicles in November 2005, an increase of 9.6%. The cumulative exports in the current financial year at 34,646 units have recorded a 10.4% growth over the export figure for the previous corresponding period.

Ashok Leyland's domestic sales in November 2006 jumped 59% to 6,420 units (4,033 vehicles in November 2005) and exports at 503 units were up 179%. Total vehicle sales aggregating 6,923 units witnessed a healthy growth of 64% as against 4,213 units in November 2005.

Cumulative domestic sales in the FY 2006-07 were up 36% to 47,278 vehicles; and exports at 3,803 units have grown by 35%,

Hero Honda Motors Ltd clung on to its numero uno position as the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer with sales of 2,80,171 units, including exports, during the month of November 2006 as against 251,186 units in the previous corresponding month. This works out to a growth of 11.5% y-o-y. Exports during the month at 7124 units saw a minor dip.

Bajaj Auto Ltd's motorcycles continued to outpace industry in November 2006 and garnered a 36% market share. Bajaj motorcycle sales zoomed 36% to 214,321 units (including exports) in November 2006 vis-à-vis 157,831 units a year back. 3-wheeler sales at 29,384 units also sustained their growth momentum and rose by robust 71% compared with the November 2005 figures. Exports at 36,086 units (23,112 units) recorded a whopping 56% growth y-o-y.

The month of November was an eventful one for Bajaj Auto. Bajaj Platina sales exceeded the 5,00,000 mark in less than 8 months since launch. Simultaneously, the Bajaj Discovers' cumulative sales exceeded the 1 million mark since launch. The new 2007 Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTS-i was introduced during the month.

To give competition a run for its money, three new motorcycles will be introduced over the next few months, spearheading the initiative to move a majority of customers away from 100cc 4-stroke motorcycles. Motorcycle capacity is being expanded to 3,00,000 per month from April 2007 in anticipation of a growth of 25% in the next financial year.

TVS Motor Company witnessed a modest growth of 4.3% by registering a total two-wheeler sales of 1,18,157 units in November 2006 compared to 1,13,261 units a year ago. Motorcycle sales numbering 68,874 units virtually ended up flat compared to November 2005 sales figure of 68,122 units.

TVSM to mark TVS StaR's achievement of over 1 million mark sales, launched a unique 5-year warranty scheme, which allows even the existing customers to enjoy this privilege.

TVS Scooty, a sub 100cc scooter recorded 21,791 units of sales in November 2006 compared to 21,057 units sold in the same month last year. The company launched a 2-stroke variant, 'Scooty Teenz' in select markets.

The export performance of TVS Motor Co. continues to be strong. The company exported 7,500 units in November 2006, recording a growth of 23% y-o-y.

Yamaha Motor India also witnessed a significant upswing in its sales numbers during the month of November. The company's sales in domestic market aggregated 14,450 (11,020 units) and the exports clocked 6,865 units (4,136 units), growing by healthy 31.1% and 66%, respectively. The company's cumulative sales tally of 21,315 units during the month reflected a robust 54% growth y-o-y.

Indian automobile industry has been growing .at a blistering pace during the current fiscal. What is .gratifying is that the impressive growth has come on the top of three consecutive years of good showing. Recent estimates of GDP growth at 9.2% in Q2 should fuel the growth further.