Feb auto sales: Maruti sales up 9.1%; Hyundai, Tata, M&M, Toyota, Kia record positive numbers 

The domestic auto companies recorded a surge in passenger vehicle sales in February, thanks to steady demand and improving supply-chain issues. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, India's biggest carmaker, sold a total of 1,72,321 units in February 2023, including 1,47,467 passenger vehicle units. The domestic PV sales increased 9.1% on a year-on-year basis as compared to 1,33,948 units sold during the same period last year.

Maruti's total sales include domestic sales of 150,823 units, sales to other OEMs of 4,291 units, and exports of 17,207 units. Among all cars, Maruti Ciaz, the company's mid-size car, saw the number declining to 792 from 1,912 in the year-ago period. The company sold 33,550 units of utility vehicles as compared to 25,360 sold in the year-ago period.

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

Hyundai Motor India registered domestic sales of 47,001 units and exported 10,850 units, with total sales at 57,851 units for February 2023. Domestic sales grew 6.7% while exports surged 19.1%, with the overall sales in February rising 8.8%.

“The newly launched Hyundai IONIQ 5, TUCSON, Grand i10 NIOS and AURA continue to create excitement in the Indian market space and receive tremendous customer response. Moreover, Hyundai CRETA building on its strong legacy has set a benchmark registering sales of 8.3 lakh units since inception," says Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India.

Tata Motors sold a total of 78,006 units in February 2023, up 6% YoY from 73,875 units sold in February 2022. The total sales include 42,862 units of domestic passenger vehicles, including EVs. The PV sales grew 7% YoY as compared to 39,981 PV units sold in February 2022. Besides, the domestic sale of MH&ICV in February 2023, including trucks and buses, stood at 17,282 units, compared to 14,596 units in February 2022.

Mahindra & Mahindra saw 10% YoY growth in domestic PV sales at 30,358 units sold in February 2023 vs 27,663 sold in the year-ago period. In the Utility Vehicles segment, Mahindra said it sold 30,221 vehicles in February despite disruptions in the supply chain of crash sensors and airbag ECUs due to the unavailability of semiconductors.

The PV segment, including UVs, cars and vans, sold 30,358 vehicles in February 2023. Veejay Nakra, president, automotive division, M&M, said the company sold over 30,000 SUVs per month and February saw a growth of 10% in the segment.

Kia India sold 24,600 units in February 2023, registering a 35.8% Y-o-Y growth, recording 35.8% growth as compared to 18,121 units sold in the corresponding month last year. The company says Kia Sonet became the top contributor with 9,836 unit despatches, followed by the Seltos with 8,012 unit sales. Hardeep Singh Brar, national head, sales and marketing, Kia India said: "Achieving 35.8% growth against the industry’s growth of 10% shows the love and confidence the Indian consumers have for the brand".

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) sold 15,338 units in February 2023, 175% growth over February last year and 120% growth as compared to January 2023. TKM sold 28,173 units in January-February 2023 as compared to 16,073 units in January-February 2022, thereby recording 175% growth.