The festive season coupled with better supplies of semiconductors has been a huge booster for auto sales in October. On Friday, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) reported that the industry had grown 6.19% YoY to clock domestic sales of 1,923,032 units during the month.
Vinod Aggarwal, President, SIAM said in a press release that good market sentiments had been a huge contributor especially in the case of passenger vehicles (PVs). However, this was missing in exports, particuarly in two- and three-wheelers, whihc were down 19% YoY to 369,318 units in October.
| Vehicle Segment | Domestic Sales | Change (%) | Exports | Change(%) | ||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | |||
| Overall | 1,810,856 | 1,923,032 | 6.19% | 456,698 | 369,318 | -19 |
PV Sales In Fast Lane
PV retails totalled 291,113 units, a 28.6% YoY jump. Of this tally, cars posted 140,926 units, up 35.7%, followed by SUVs which grew 26% to 141,254 units.However, vans were down by 14.2% to 8,933 units from 10,412 units in October’21.
This scenario played out in exports too where cars were up 24% to 33,045 units while SUVsgrew 15% to 14,614 units. There was just one van shipped out in October.
| Passenger Vehicles | Domestic Sales | Change(%) | Exports | Change(%) | ||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | |||
| Passenegr Cars | 103,829 | 140,926 | 35.7 | 26,639 | 33,045 | 24 |
| Utility Vehicles | 112,112 | 141,254 | 26 | 12,719 | 14,614 | 15 |
| Vans | 10,412 | 8,933 | -14.2 | 308 | 1 | -99.6 |
| Total | 226,353 | 291,113 | 28.6 | 39,666 | 47,660 | 20 |
Two-Wheelers Up A Tad
Two-wheeler retails grew by a marginal 1.6% YoY to 1,577,694 units and Aggarwal said inflation and rising interest rates had hit rural market sentiments. Scooters and motorcycles were up 7% and 0.2% each to 512,761 units and 1,020,295 units. Meanwhile with retails of 44,638 units, the moped segment fell 19.3%, a clear reflection of the distress in rural India.
On the exports side, the overall segment fell by 23% to 287,319 units. Motorcycles led the way with 256,934 units though they were down by 23%. Scooters fell by 22% to 30,151 units and mopeds by 65% to 234 units.
| Two-Wheelers | Domestic Sales | Change (%) | Exports | Change (%) | ||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | |||
| Scooter/ Scooterettee | 479,459 | 512,761 | 6.9 | 38,619 | 30,151 | -22 |
| Motorcycle/Step-Throughs | 1,017,874 | 1,020,295 | 0.23 | 334,781 | 256,934 | -23 |
| Mopeds | 55,356 | 44,638 | -19.3 | 672 | 234 | -65 |
| Total | 1,552,689 | 1,577,694 | 1.61 | 374,072 | 287,319 | -23 |
Three-Wheelers Back On Track
The three-wheeler segment posted a healthy growth of 70.2% with retails totalling 54,154 units. Aggarwal said passenger 3Ws were seeing better offtake due to increased shared mobility in semi-urban and urban areas.
With retails of 41,246 units, the passenger 3W segment grew 92% compared to October’21. The goods carrier, e-rickshaw and the e-cart segment were up 14.12%, 75.7% and 661.7% YoY respectively to 10,326 units, 2,323 units and 259 units during the month.
Yet, overall 3W exports crashed 20% compared to October last year. The fugure of 34,255 units comprised 34,038 units of passenger carriers and 217 of goods carriers.
| Three Wheeler | Domestic Sales | Change (%) | Exports | Change(%) | ||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | |||
| Passenger Carrier | 21,408 | 41,246 | 92.6 | 41,844 | 34,038 | -19 |
| Goods Carrier | 9,048 | 10,326 | 14.12 | 852 | 217 | -75 |
| E-Rickshaw | 1,322 | 2,323 | 75.7 | |||
| E-Cart | 34 | 259 | 661.7 | |||
| Total | 31,812 | 54,154 | 70.2 | 42,696 | 34,255 | -20 |
Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM said while PV sales reached a new high in April-October, two-wheeler numbers were still lower than that of 2016 and three-wheelers below 2010 levels. Likewise, while PV overseas shipments were growing, this was not the case with two-and three-wheelers.