Maruti auto sales down 5%; Tata Motors records 74% jump

Auto giant Maruti Suzuki, India's biggest car maker, recorded a 5% decline in sales at 1.5 lakh units in April 2022 as compared to 1.59 units sold in the same month last year. The company sold 126,261 units domestically, 5,987 units to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and exported 18,413 units. Maruti attributed the "shortage of electronic components" to the decline in sales. This had a minor impact on the production of vehicles, mainly domestic models, the company said.

The company had increased the prices of its entire range of vehicles from April to "pass on some impact of the additional costs to customers". From January 2021-March 2022, Maruti Suzuki had risen the prices of its vehicles by 8.8%.

Tata Motors, however, recorded a strong comeback with over a two-third rise (74%) in sales in April. The company sold 72,468 units in April vs 41,729 units sold in April 2021. Tata Motors' domestic sales grew 81% at 71,467 units sold in the said month, compared to 39,401 units sold in the corresponding month last year.

The commercial vehicle segment saw the biggest 87% YoY growth at 30,838 units as compared to 16,515 sold in April 2021. Total domestic PV sales surged 66% to 41,587, compared to 25,095 units sold in April 2021.

South Korean auto major Hyundai India Ltd also sold 44,001 units domestically and exported 12,200 units in April 2022, recording a total sales of 56,201 units. Its cumulative sales decline 5%, while domestic sales dipped 10% YoY in April 2022.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor sold 15,085 units in April 2022, with sales rising at 57% YoY as compared to 9,622 units sold in April 2021. On a month-on-month basis, Toyota sales dipped 12%.

Anand Mahindra's Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd sold 45,640 vehicles in April 2022. This is a growth of 25% over the corresponding month last year. The company recorded a 23% rise in the sale of passenger vehicles at 22,526 units vs 18,285 units sold during the same month last year. Its exports also rose 35% YoY to 2,703 units. Mahindra’s farm equipment sector sold 39,405 units in India during April 2022, registering a growth of 51%.

M&M said the supply-chain issues still persist due lockdown situation in China. "There were a number of supply chain challenges due to lockdown in China. We continue monitoring the developments closely and will take corrective action as appropriate.”

MG Motor India sold 2,008 units, a 21.72% decline from 2,565 units sold in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, FADA president Vinkesh Gulati says the overall full recovery is yet to be seen as auto retails in FY22 are down by 25% when compared to FY20, which was largely a pre-covid year and a year of BS4 to BS-6 transition. FADA is an apex national body representing automobile dealers of India. On a YoY basis, the total vehicle retail for March 2022 had decreased by 3% YoY, and 30% when compared to March 2020, when all India lockdown was announced, shows the FADA data.