Most India automakers post higher September sales
MUMBAI (MarketWatch) -- M
ost Indian auto makers, including Tata Motors Ltd. , Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and the local unit of Hyundai Motor Co. HYMLY 0.00% , posted higher sales in September as an anticipated demand spurt in the festive season encouraged them to ship more vehicles to dealers.
But India's biggest car maker by sales,
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. , posted a decline for the third straight month on production cuts and lower demand.
Higher fuel costs and interest rates have impacted demand for vehicles in Asia's no. 3 auto market.
But companies expect demand to improve in the festive season, which started in late September, as the time is considered auspicious by many to make purchases.
The India unit of Suzuki Motor Corp. sold 85,565 units during September, down 21% on year. Domestic sales fell 17% to 78,816 units while exports fell 48% to 6,749 units. Maruti sold lower units of almost all its car models, except the Swift DZire sedan which rose 10% to 9,411 units.
The company lost production of
800 cars a day on an average last month due to labor unrest at a factory at the north Indian state of Haryana, which ended Friday. It continues to make lower number of cars than usual but aims to make up for the production loss in a few weeks after a new assembly line at its north India plant is operational, it said recently.
Maruti's rival Hyundai sold 57,808 vehicles during the month, up 12% on year. Local sales grew 13% to 35,955 units while exports grew 11% to 21,853 units.
Tata Motors, India's biggest auto maker by sales, sold 78,786 vehicles during September, higher by 22% on year. The company sold 46,247 trucks and buses in the month, up 29% on year.
Passenger vehicle sales grew 10% to 26,319 units. Sales of its Nano minicar however fell 47% to 2,936 units. Total exports rose 23% to 6,220 units.
sold 12,807 units during the month, more than double of last year, backed by volumes of its Etios sedan and Etios Liva small car.
TVS Motor Co. sales grew
17% to 219,369 units during the month, on robust two-wheeler demand
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/most-india-automakers-post-higher-september-sales-2011-10-01
---------- Post added at 05:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:52 AM ----------
Maruti Suzuki to double sales network by 2015 across India
30 September, 2011
The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Thursday said it aims to double its sales network by 2015 across India with a focus on small towns and cities.
MSI on Thursday announced opening of its
1,000th sales showroom for its products in Surat, Gujarat, as a part of the strategy to
expand into tier-II and tier-III cities across the country.
“Network expansion is strategic to our business and we would continue to focus on it. We target to double our sales network in next five years, in line with the company’s sales plan,” MSI Managing Director and CEO Shinzo Nakanishi said in a statement.
Besides the plan to increase the number of car outlets, the company has also undertaken an initiative of upgrading its three year old showrooms under project ‘Nav Nirman’.
“The objective of ‘Nav Nirman’ is to provide customers uniform buying experience across the country,” it added.
Meanwhile, the company which is facing labour unrest at its Manesar plant, said it has rolled out 690 Swift cars combined from Gurgaon and Manesar facilities today.
It also produced 60 units of A-star and SX4 models from Manesar plants.
“In the last two days, in addition to Swift, the company has also started making these two models at Manesar where focus until now remained on attaining normal production levels for Swift model,” the company said in a separate statement.
Currently, there are 1,500 people available for production at Manesar plants. This includes 1,120 experienced and trained technicians brought in by the company in the last few days, it added.
Car News India | Maruti Suzuki to double sales network by 2015 across India
