A majority of automobile manufacturers registered year-on-year growth in dispatches to dealers during November amid improving customer sentiment and expectations that preference for personal mobility due to the pandemic will continue to drive demand.
However, market leader Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday said its domestic passenger vehicles sales fell 2.4% to about 1.35 lakh units last month. The company’s export sales rose almost 30% to 9,000 units.
As per the data shared by the company, sales of mini segment cars (Alto, S-Presso) fell 15% to 22,339 units and sales of compact segment vehicles (WagonR, Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno, Dzire) was down 1.8% to 76,630 units. However, sales of mid-size Ciaz, utility vehicles (Gypsy, Ertiga, Vitara Brezza, XL6, S-Cross) and vans (Omni, Eeco) were up 29% to 1,870 units, 2.4% to 23,753 units and 10% to 11,183 units, respectively.
Hyundai Motor India recorded the highest-ever domestic sales in November with 48,800 units, a growth of 9.4% over the year earlier period. However, its exports fell 34.6% to 15,900 units.
Tata Motors said its domestic sales has risen 26% in November year-on-year to 47,859 units. While passenger vehicle sales more than doubled to 21,641 units, commercial vehicles fell 5% to 26,218 units in the month.
Likewise, M&M registered 6% growth in domestic sales at 41,095 units. While sales of passenger vehicles rose 24% to 14,637 units, that of commercial vehicles climbed 9% at 19,029 units. However, three-wheeler sales fell 42% to 3,854 units.
Honda Cars India registered 55% growth in domestic sales in November at 9,990 units from 6,459 units in the same month last year.
“The rise in personal mobility is expected to help us sustain our sales momentum during the rest of the fiscal year,” said Rajesh Goel, senior VP and director, Marketing & Sales.
Kia Motors India said its total sales stood at 21,022 units in November 2020, rising 50% year-on-year.
“Not only urban, but customers from tier II, III, and IV markets too are acknowledging the need for personal mobility to maintain personal safety,” Kookhyun Shim, MD & CEO, Kia Motors India said.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor also announced sales of 8,508 units, rising 2.4% from 8,312 units in November 2019. Naveen Soni, Sr. Vice President, Sales & Service- TKM said, “The company has been witnessing a gradual yet steady recovery owing to factors such as pent up & festive season demand as well as consolidation of the market at the lower end due to increasing preference for personal mobility amongst customers.”
Two-wheelers
Hero MotoCorp said it sold more than 5.75 lakh units in the domestic market, rising from 5.05 lakh units in the year-earlier period.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India closed November 2020 with domestic sales of more than 4.12 lakh units compared with more than 3.73 lakh units a year earlier.
TVS Motors said its domestic two-wheeler sales had risen 20% to more than 2.47 lakh units as against more than 1.91 lakh units in November 2019.
Bajaj Auto said its two-wheeler sales increased 7% to over 1.88 lakh units last month, while sale of commercial vehicles was down 38% to 37,247 units. Overall, the company’s domestic sales were down 4% to nearly 1.99 lakh units.
For niche bikemaker Royal Enfield, sales were marginally up by 1% to 59,084 units, while Suzuki Motorcycle India said it sold 57,429 units in the domestic market “amid steadily improving demand” as against 60,855 units soldin November 2019.
Tractors
The Tractor segment continued to shine in November. While Sonalika Tractors said its domestic sales grew 71% to 11,478 units, Escorts Ltd Agri Machinery Segment registered highest ever November sales at 10,165 units.
M&M’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES) posted 55% growth in domestic sales at 31,619 units as against 20,414 units during November 2019. Hemant Sikka, President - FES, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “Demand continues to be robust fueled by an excellent festive season with retails being strong during Dhanteras and Diwali. Rural sentiments remain positive on account of higher Kharif output and Rabi sowing. Procurement operations for kharif are on full swing which would keep the rural cash flows healthy. Government’s focus on rural growth continues and outlay under Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 will provide further fillip to the industry.”
Commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland said its domestic sales were 4% during the period under review to 9,727 units from 9,377 units in November 2019.
VE Commercial Vehicles, a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, posted sales of 3,710 units in November 2020, registering a growth of about 3%.
