May 2014 Automobile Sales - Gainers & Losers

Dented by high fuel and interest costs in a slower economy, automobile manufacturers reported mixed sales for last month.

Sales of India's largest passenger car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki reported an increase of 19.2 percent in its total sales, including exports, for May at 100,925 units.

The company sold 84,677 units in the corresponding month of 2013.

The company's domestic sales surged by 16.4 percent to 90,560 units during the month under review as compared to 77,821 units sold in the corresponding month of last year.

Maruti Suzuki exported 10,365 units last month, which was a rise of 51.2 percent from 6,856 units sold overseas during the corresponding month of 2013.

Chennai-based automobile manufacturer Hyundai Motor's sales in the month under review fell by nine percent in its sales for May at 51,718 units from 56,856 units in the corresponding month of last year.

However, the company said its domestic sales during the month under review grew by 12.8 percent and stood at 36,205 units - up from 32,102 units sold in the corresponding month of 2013.

The company's exports last month crashed by 37.3 percent at 15,513 units - down from 24,754 units shipped out during the corresponding month of last year.

"Hyundai with a volume of 36,205 units has grown by 12.8 percent over last year which is in line with this year's objective to grow in market share and volume," Rakesh Srivastava, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Hyundai Motor India.

"We foresee to maintain this positive trend by strengthening our product portfolio and improving channel efficiencies."

Other major players in the Indian auto market, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) reported a drop in sales.

Tata Motors' total sales, including exports, in the month under review fell by 24 percent at 37,525 units last months from an off-take of 49,304 units in the corresponding month of 2013.

The company's domestic sales including commercial and passenger vehicles in the month under review too decline. The off-take fell by 24 percent at 34,334 units from 45,430 units sales in January 2013.

The company's exports during the month under review grew by 18 percent and stood at 3,191 units from 3,874 vehicles shipped-out during the corresponding month of 2013.

M&M's off-take last month was down 13 percent at 37,869 units from at 43,460 units in the corresponding month of last year.

Domestic sales stood at 35,499 units during last month, as against 42,104 units during May 2013, a decline of 16 percent.

However, the company's exports during the month under review zoomed by 75 percent at 2,370 units from 1,356 units being shipped-off in the corresponding period 2013.

Japanese-Indian car joint venture Toyota Kirloskar Motor closed last month with a total sales of 13,230 units up six percent from 12,502 units sold in May 2013.

In a statement, the company said it sold 11,833 units last month in the domestic market, with a growth of 18 percent as compared to 10,023 units sold in May 2013.

Other Japanese automobile major Honda's sales during the month under review grew by 18 percent at 13,362 units from 11,342 units sold in the corresponding month last year

Two- and three-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company closed May with 27 percent sales growth as it sold 210,293 units last month, up from 165,151 units sold in May 2013.

Suzuki Motor Corporation too logged healthy sales of about 13 percent last month which stood at 32,117 units in May 2014 as opposed to 28,455 units in May 2013

Yamaha Motor India reported a sales growth of 40 percent last month at 47,680 units from an off-take of 34,021 units sold in January 2013.

Hero MotoCorp reported an eight percent growth of 602,481 units in May 2014 sold 557,890 units in the corresponding month 2013.