Recession, where ? Never in INDIA

HMIL posts 12,9 % growth in August 2009

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) has reported a 12.9% increase in sales in the domestic market during August this year, at 24,401 units, as against 21,610 units in August 2008. Exports went up from 23,100 units in August 2008, to 25,120 units during August this year.

During August 2009, HMIL sold 45,495 units in the A2 segment (Santro, i10, Getz, i20), 3,979 units in the A3 segment (Accent, Verna) and 47 units in the A5 segment (Sonata). The company did not sell any units of its SUV, Tucson, during August this year.

The 2010-spec Audi Q7 is expected to be launched in India very soon

Audi has reported a 69.31% hike in its sales in India during August this year, at 171 units, as against 101 units in the year-ago period. The German company, which sells the A4, A6 and A8 sedans, Q7 and Q5 SUVs and the R8 supercar in India, sold 1,128 units in the country between January and August this year, an increase of 62% over the 696 units sold in January-August 2008

M&M's UV sales were up almost 42% in August this year!

Mahindra & Mahindra has reported a 16.9% hike in domestic sales during August this year, at 21,410 units, as against 18,322 units sold during August 2008. Sales of the company’s utility vehicles (Scorpio, Xylo, Bolero) is, in fact, up by 41.8%, with 16,631 units sold in August 2009 as compared to 11,731 units in August 2008.

M&M sold a total (domestic + exports) of 22,413 passenger vehicles in August 2009, as against 19,249 units sold in August last year.

Mahindra’s FES registered a 4% hike in domestic sales, at 10,160 units, as compared to 9,781 units in the year-ago period. Its total tractor sales (domestic + exports) was also up by 2%, at 10,645 units, as compared to 10,427 units during August last year.

Maruti is hoping the Estilo will do better sans the now defunct 'Zen' badge

Maruti Suzuki reported an increase of 41.6% in sales during August this year, at 84,808 units, as against 59,908 units during August 2008. The company sold 69,961 units in the domestic market, an increase of 29.3%, and exported 14,487 units, a hike of 156% over the figures reported in August 2008.

Maruti sales during August 2009 comprised of 2,734 units of the 800 (which will be phased out in Metro cities in 2010), 52,473 units in the A2 segment (Alto, Wagon R,Estilo, Swift, A-Star and Ritz) and 7,821 units in the A3 segment (SX4 and Dzire).

Tata Motors has announced a 14.24% increase in its total sales during August this year, at 49,810 units, as compared to 43,600 units sold in August 2008. The company sold 17,364 passenger vehicles in India in August this year, as compared to 15,597 units in August last year – an increase of 11.33%. However, exports in the same period went down from 4,772 units to 2,684 units – a decline of 43.76%.

During August this year, Tata Motors sold 9,598 units of the Indica, 2,656 units of the Indigo and 2,609 units of utility vehicles Safari and Sumo.

In the commercial vehicles segment, Tata Motors sold 29,762 units during August 2009, as compared to 23,231 units in the year-ago period – an increase of 28.11%. During August this year, the company sold 18,644 units of its LCVs and 11,118 units of its medium and heavy commercial vehicles.

Tata Motors also posted a consolidated loss of Rs 329 crore for the quarter ended June 30, as compared to Rs 720 crore profit posted in the corresponding quarter last year. The prime reason for this loss is said to be Tata’s acquisition of the UK-based Jaguar and Land Rover. JLR took a £150 million loan during the quarter for its working capital requirements, while another £340 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) is due to be commissioned in the near future.

Yamaha, Hero Honda, Suzuki and TVS log growth in sales during August 2009

Yamaha India has reported an increase of 63% in its sales during August 2009, at 19,508 units, as compared to 11,974 units sold in August last year. The company has bookings for over 12,000 units for its latest bike that was launched in India recently – the 150cc Fazer. 

Hero Honda reports an increase of 35.88% in sales during August this year, at 415,137 units, as compared to 305,516 units sold in August last year. ‘With sales of more than four lakh units, August 2009 has been a month of record sales for Hero Honda,’ said Anil Dua, senior VP (marketing and sales), Hero Honda.

Up next is Suzuki, which logged a 17.68% increase in its two-wheeler sales in India during August this year, at 13,030 units, as against 11,072 units sold during August last year. According to Suzuki, its latest offering in the Indian market – the GS150R – was the main reason behind this increase in sales.

And finally, TVS Motor, which saw its total two-wheeler sales go up by 11%, at 126,842 units during August this year, as against 114, 321 units sold during August last year. TVS sold 51,127 motorcycles and 28,582 scooters in the domestic market during August 2009. The company also exported 11,747 two-wheelers during August this year, a decline of 35% over last year’s figure for the same month.

Toyota is likely to launch its first small car for India by end-2010

Toyota is aiming to boost its sales in India by as much as 200%, by 2012. For this, the Japanese giant is looking at launching its first small car here, probably by end-2010. Toyota sold 46,892 cars in the last fiscal, a small-ish fraction of the more than 1.5 million cars that were sold in India during the period.

Toyota will build its small car for India at its new plant near Bangalore, which has a production capacity of 70,000 units per annum. The car would be launched with around 30% local content but the company plans to increase indigenisation levels rapidly, to keep costs in check.

Toyota is likely to take a two-pronged approach to entering the small car segment in India. The company is likely to position its ‘Toyota’ branded small car in the Swift/i20/Punto/Fabia segment, and could bring in its ‘Daihatsu’ brand, with which it could tackle the Wagon R/Santro segment.

In all likelihood, Toyota isn’t likely to go below a certain size of car and price point in India, in order to make sure its cars like the Corolla, Camry and Fortuner are still associated with the ‘premium’ tag that goes with Toyota products in India