Indian Auto Industry (April-September): Domestic Sales Down, Exports Negative

Production

The cumulative production data for April-September 2012 shows production growth of only 2.44 percent over same period last year. However, the industry produced only 1,672,797 vehicles in September 2012 as against 1,773,154 in September 2011, which is a decline by almost 6 percent.

Domestic Sales

The overall growth in domestic sales during April-September 2012 was 3.62 percent over same period last year. However, in September 2012 overall sales declined by (-9.43) percent over September 2011. Passenger Vehicles segment grew at 6.96 percent during April-September 2012 over same period last year. Passenger Cars declined by -0.27 percent, Utility Vehicles grew by 55.83 percent and Vans grew by (-5.05) percent during April-September 2012 as compared to same period last year. However, in September 2012 passenger car sales dropped by 5.36 percent over September 2011. Total passenger vehicles sales grew around 5 percent in September 2012 over same month last year.

The overall Commercial Vehicles segment registered growth of 3.71 percent in April-September 2012 as compared to the same period last year. While Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles (M&HCVs) registered negative growth at (-12.49) percent, Light Commercial Vehicles grew at 16.04 percent. Three Wheelers sales recorded marginal growth at 0.59 percent in April-September 2012. Passenger Carriers grew by 4.29 percent during April-September 2012 and Goods Carriers registered de-growth at (-13.21) percent during this period. Two Wheelers registered a growth of only 3.12 percent during April-September 2012. Scooters and mopeds grew by 20.46 percent and 0.80 percent respectively.  In April-September 2012 Motorcycles declined by -0.79 percent over same period last year. However, in September 2012 motorcycle and mopeds registered negative growth at (-18.85) and (-10.36) percent respectively over same month last year.

Exports

During April-September 2012 overall automobile exports registered negative growth at (-5.96) percent. While Passenger Vehicles grew by 2.77 percent and Commercial Vehicles grew only by 1.91 percent. Two & Three wheelers declined by (-3.75) and (-30.91) percent respectively in April–September 2012 compared to the same period last year. In September 2012 car exports grew by 10 percent compared to last year September and two wheelers exports declined by over 11 percent during the same period.