Auto sector signals revival; records positive sales growth in May

Marking a healthy growth amid a slowdown, auto sector bellwether Maruti Suzuki India Ltd sold a total of 1,61,413 units in May 2022 as compared to 46,555 units sold in May 2021, thus recording growing at 247% on a year-on-year (YoY) basis. The company had recorded a 5% YoY decline in sales at 1.5 lakh units in April 2022. This month’s sales include domestic sales of 128,000 units, sales to OEMs at 6,222 units and its highest ever monthly exports of 27,191 units.

However, the sales figures for May 2022 are not comparable with that of May 2021 as the operations last year were significantly affected due to Covid-19 related disruptions, says Maruti.

Maruti's total domestic sales also rose to 134,222 units in May 2022 as compared to 35,293 units sold in May 2021, recording a 280% YoY rise. Its exports also rose to 27,191 units as compared to 11,262 units sold during the sale period last year, recording a 141.4% rise. During the April-May period, the company's sales increased to 312,074 as compared to 206,246 units sold during the same period last year, growing at 51.3% YoY.

Maruti says the shortage of electronic components had a minor impact on the production of vehicles, mainly on domestic models, and that it took all possible measures to minimise the impact.

Similarly, auto giant Tata Motors Ltd registered 186% growth in total sales at 76,210 units in May 2022 as compared to 26,661 units sold during May 2021, a period when India was coming out of the Covid pandemic. Domestically, Tata Motors sold 74,755 units in May 2022, recording a growth of 204% as compared to 24,552 units sold in May 2021. The high sales could be attributed to the low base during the same period last year.

In the passenger vehicle category, Tata Motors sold 39,887 units in May 2022 as compared to 14,705 units sold in May 2021. In the commercial vehicle category, passenger cars recorded the highest growth of 426% in May at 3,632 units, followed by I&LCV (intermediate and light commercial vehicle) at 4,474 units (364% rise) and M&HCV (medium and heavy commercial vehicle) at 8,409 units (226% growth). The company's commercial vehicle exports, however, declined 31% in May to 1,404 units in May 2022 as compared to 2,030 units sold in May 2021.

Bajaj Auto, however, reported lower-than-expected sales of 2.75 lakh units for May, marginally up by 1% on a year-on-year basis, dented by weak exports. However, the sales were down 34% as compared to their pre-pandemic levels in May 2019.

The company sold over 2.75 lakh units in May as compared to 2.71 lakh in the corresponding month last year, registering a marginal increase of 1%. The total exports dropped by 22% year-on-year to 1.63 lakh vehicles as against 2.11 lakh in the year-ago period. However, the auto major reported 85% growth in total domestic sales to 112,308 units in May 2022 versus 60,830 units in the same period last year.

TVS Motor recorded an 80.9% rise in May 2022 sales at 3.02 lakh units as compared to 1.67 lakh units sold in May 2021. Exports declined 3.5% to 1.10 lakh units as compared to 1.14 lakh units sold in May 2021. The two-wheeler sales also rose 86.4% to 2.87 lakh units in May 2022 vs 1.54 lakh units sold in May 2021.

Eicher Motors and Ashok Leyland also recorded positive sales in May 2022. While Eicher Motors' May commerical vehicle (CV) sales stood at 5,637 units vs 1,223 units in May 2021 and 4,800 units in May 2019. Ashok Leyland's May sales stood at 13,273 units as compared to 3,199 units sold in May 2021.

Other automakers like Toyota and MG Motor sold 10,216 and 4,008 units, respectively. While Toyota sales grew 1,344% on a low base of 707 units in May 2021, MG Motor's auto sales grew 294.5% from 1,016 units sold in May 2021.