Audi has launched the new Q7 in India at prices starting from Rs. 72 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi and Mumbai).
INDIA SALES: Reality check for auto sales in November after Diwali fireworks As automakers announced their sales numbers for the month of November 2015, it is amply clear that while most have clocked double-digit growth year on year, the sharp momentum seen in October 2015 as a result of Diwali and Dhanteras has not continued. Nevertheless, the mood is good and that augurs well for the months to come. Maruti Suzuki India announced its November 2015 domestic sales which, at 110,599 units, are a 10.6 percent rise over the year ago figures (November 2014: 100,024). However, compared to the company’s handsome 24.7 percent year-on-year growth in October 2015 with sales of 121,063 units, November sales seem slightly muted albeit Diwali sales had much to contribute to that high number. While demand for the entry level Alto and Wagon R hatchback dipped last month to 35,981 units, down 4.7 percent year on year (November 2014: 37,746), Maruti’s compact cars (Swift, Celerio, Baleno, Dzire and Ritz) saw sales of 44,626 units, a good 19.5 percent increase (November 2014: 37,339). The Dzire Tour cab also saw good numbers of 3,363 units, up 69 percent (November 2014: 1,989). The carmaker also saw sales of its UVs (Ertiga, S-Cross and Gypsy) rise – 8,688 units in November 2015, up 57.5 percent. Sales of the Omni and Eeco vans however seem to have slowed last month, with sales of 12,432 units, 1.8 percent (November 2014: 12,203). On the export front, Maruti Suzuki shipped 10,225 cars, up a marginal 1 percent (November 2014: 10,123). Hyundai Motor India has recorded domestic sales of 43,651 units, up 23 percent year on year (November 2014: 35,511) and exports of 14,010 units with cumulative sales of 57,661 units for the month of November 2015. Commenting on the month’s sales, Rakesh Srivastava, senior VP (Sales and Marketing), Hyundai Motor India, said, “Hyundai achieved a cumulative 4 million domestic sales milestone with strong performance of 43,651 units this month growing by 23% over last year on the strength of strong demand for its product portfolio led by the Creta, i20 and Grand i10.” Mahindra & Mahindra has announced that its passenger vehicles division (which includes UVs, cars and vans) sold 19,662 units in November 2015, up 36 percent November 2014: 14,473). Speaking on the sales performance, Pravin Shah, president & chief executive (Automotive), M&M, said, “The festive season coupled with new product launches as well as moderation in interest rates has seen the auto industry post a positive growth during the last couple of months. I believe speedy implementation of GST will help and have a long term impact on the competitiveness of Indian auto industry. At Mahindra, we have been buoyed by our new product launches such as the TUV300 as well as growth momentum of existing products like the Bolero, Scorpio and XUV500. Our exports have been very encouraging, showing a 28 percent cumulative growth for the current fiscal. We are happy to be in a positive growth phase at the end of November 2015.” Honda Cars India registered monthly domestic sales of 14,712 units in November 2015 against 15,263 units in the corresponding month last year. The City continued to be a popular buy among consumers, with sales of 6,342 units. The Amaze sedan was the next best-seller with 4,106 units. While the new Jazz sold 3,367 units, the Brio sold 461 units, the Mobilio 393 and the CR-V 43. In the April-November 2015 period, Honda has clocked cumulative domestic sales of 132,095 units compared to 116,705 units for the corresponding period last year, marking a growth of 13%. HCIL also exported a total of 120 units during November 2015. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) sold 10,278 units in the domestic market, down 15.6 percent compared to a year ago (November 2014: 12,175). According to TKM, the Etios series has seen a cumulative growth of 9 percent from January to November 2015 when compared to the same period the previous year. New Camry sales have exceeded 1,000 units from January to November 2015 and posted 65% growth in sales for November 2015; the Camry hybrid constitutes 90% of this sale. In November 2015, Tata Motors’ passenger vehicles recorded a year-on-year decline of 13%, with sales of 10,517 units compared to 12,021 units in November 2014. While the overall sales of passenger cars in November 2015 were lower by 11% at 9,172, compared to 10,286 units in November 2014, the compact car segment (without sedan) witnessed a growth of 33% at 5,821 units in November 2015, compared to 4,376 units in November 2014. UV sales declined by 22% at 1,345 units in November 2015. Cumulative sales of all passenger vehicles in the domestic market for the fiscal are 88,321 units, higher by 10% over last year. Led by the growing demand for the Kwid, Renault India saw growth of 144% with monthly domestic sales of 7,819 units in November 2015 as against 3,201 units in the corresponding month last year. Speaking on the company’s sales performance, Sumit Sawhney, country CEO and managing director, Renault India Operations, said, “When we launched the Kwid in India, we committed to launching a new era and benchmark in the Indian automotive industry. The outstanding feedback and unprecedented response to the car have proved us right. The growing acceptance by first-time buyers indicates that the Kwid is truly an aspirational product, offering an outstanding value proposition.” The carmaker says it has substantially increased its sales and service network reach in India, from 14 sales and service facilities in mid-2011 to 190 currently, and will reach 240 facilities by the end of next year, which includes expanding its presence in existing and new markets in urban, semi-urban and rural India.
Honda has announced that it is recalling 64,428 units of the diesel variants of the Honda City and 25,782 units of the diesel variants of the Mobilio to replace their fuel return pipes. The recall covers City sedans manufactured between December 2013 and July 2015 and Mobilio MPVs manufactured between June 2014 and July 2015. According to Honda, there is a possibility that in some of these cars, the fuel return pipe may come out, resulting in fuel leakage and leading to engine stoppage.
Maruti Suzuki announced that it would hike prices across its range of models including the recently launched Baleno, starting 1stJanuary, 2016. Maruti Suzuki cited challenging market conditions, rise in administrative and component costs along with foreign exchange fluctuations as reasons to justify the hike. The price hike on January 1st 2016 follows the previous hike that was announced by the company in August 2015 when all models except the recently launched S-cross saw a hike between Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 9,000. Even though Maruti has not revealed the individual break up of the hike till now, the S-cross which is the most expensive car in the company’s line is reported to receive a maximum price hike of Rs. 20,000.
