Tata, Hyundai Other Auto Makers Post Rise In Sales In March, Maruti Registers Sight Decline

Tata Motors said that the steep growth witnessed by the industry was driven by post-COVID pent-up demand in the early part of the year, the launch of several new vehicles

Tata Motors said its total domestic wholesales increased by 3 per cent to 89,351 units in March.

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Several domestic auto-makers released sales figures for the month of March on Saturday. While Tata Motors, Hyundai, and Toyota Kirloskar reported a notable rise in sales. Maruti Suzuki and Kia India saw a dip in last month's sales. 

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Managing Director Shailesh Chandra said that FY23 has set a new record for passenger vehicle sales in India. The steep growth witnessed by the industry was driven by post-COVID pent-up demand in the early part of the year, the launch of several new vehicles, and the easing of the semiconductor shortage.

Tata Motors

Tata Motors said its total domestic wholesales increased by 3 per cent to 89,351 units in March compared to the same month last year. The company sold 86,718 units in March 2022.

The auto major said its passenger vehicle sales in the domestic market stood at 44,044 units last month, as compared to 42,293 units in the same month last year. Commercial vehicle sales in the domestic market stood at 46,823 units as against 47,050 units in March 2022. 

For the financial year 2022-23, the company sold a total of 9,31,957 units in the domestic market, an increase of 35 per cent over 6,92,554 units in 2021-22. Passenger vehicle dispatches rose 45 per cent to 5,38,640 units as compared with 3,70,372 units FY22.

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles MD Shailesh Chandra said that Tata Motors scaled a new sales peak by posting its highest-ever annual domestic sales of 5,38,640 units, achieving a robust 46 per cent sales growth over FY22 and registering its third successive year of industry-beating growth. 

"Looking ahead, we expect the demand for personal vehicles to remain robust with the trend of electrification further strengthening as more options are made available to customers plus support from a rapidly growing and improving ecosystem," he said.

"We continue to stay agile, carefully monitoring the supply situation, particularly semiconductors and any potential waves of Covid," Chandra added.

Hyundai

Hyundai Motor India reported an 11 per cent rise in wholesales at 61,500 units in March as compared with 55,287 units in March 2022. Domestic dispatches in March 2023 rose 13 per cent to 50,600 units as compared with 44,600 units a year ago.

Exports rose to 10,900 units from 10,687 vehicles in the same period a year ago. Total sales in the FY23 stood at 7,20,565 units, up 18 per cent from 6,10,760 units in FY22. It is the company's highest-ever sales in a financial year since commencing operations in the country, the company said in a statement. 

Domestic dispatches last month rose to 5,67,546 units from 4,81,500 units in 2021-22. Exports were higher by 18 per cent year-on-year to 1,53, 019 vehicles.

"FY 22-23 has been a phenomenal year for Hyundai Motor India, as we introduced seven segment defining products like the all-new Hyundai Tucson, new Venue, Venue N Line, all electric IONIQ 5, new Grand i10 NIOS, new AURA and the all-new Verna catering to different segments thus giving a strong push to brand Hyundai amongst new-age Indian customers," Hyundai Motor India COO Tarun Garg said.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) on Saturday said its sales increased by 9 per cent year-on-year to 18,670 units in March. The company sold 17,131 units in the domestic market in March 2022. For FY23, the automaker reported a 41 per cent increase in wholesales at 1,74,015 units from 1,23,770 units in FY22.

"We are extremely pleased to close this fiscal year on a positive note and expect continued momentum and growth in the fiscal of 2024-2025. The passenger vehicles segment witnessed a steady growth last year, and TKM was prepared to ride the wave by making deeper inroads into the market to meet the varied mobility needs," TKM Vice President, Sales, and Strategic Marketing Atul Sood said in a statement.

"Given the strong customer demand for all our products, we remain optimistic towards an even better year. Our strong efforts will be to continue to closely serve our customers thus strengthening the bedrock for long-term value-based relationship in the coming time," Sood added.

MG Motor India

MG Motor India reported a 28 per cent year-on-year increase in its retail sales at 6,051 units in March, its best ever so far in a month. The automaker said that the strengthening of semiconductor supplies through various localisation initiatives and the easing of logistical bottlenecks have been key factors in achieving the highest-ever sales. 

This momentum is expected to sustain and improve in the near future as well, it added.

The company had retailed 4,721 units in March 2022.

"The Next-Gen MG Hector, India's first internet SUV maintains its strong uptake in the market and has recorded its second-highest lifetime sales, since its launch, in the month of March," MG Motor India Senior Director – Sales Rakesh Sidana noted.

Similarly, the ZS EV has been registering good traction across market segments, he added. The automaker said it is gearing up for the launch of its forthcoming electric vehicle 'Comet'. 

Maruti Suzuki

Maruti Suzuki India's total sales declined marginally to 1,70,071 last month as compared with 1,70,395 units in March 2022. Total dispatches to dealers in the domestic market declined 3 per cent to 1,39,952 units as compared with 1,43,899 units in March 2022.

Exports last month increased 14 per cent to 30,119 units from 26,496 units in the year-ago period, the company said. 

For FY23, the company reported its highest-ever wholesales to date at 19,66,164 units, up 19 per cent from 16,52,653 units in 2021-22. Domestic dispatches stood at 17,06,831 units in 2022-23 as against 14,14,277 units in 2021-22. Exports rose to 2,59,333 units from 2,38,376 units a year ago. 

Kia India

Kia India said its sales wholesales declined by 5 per cent to 21,501 units last month, as compared to 22,622 units in March 2022. The company dispatched 8,677 units of Sonet, 6,554 units of Seltos, and 6,102 units of Carens last month to dealers.

For FY23, Kia India sold 2,69,229 units, a growth of 44 per cent over 1,86,787 units in 2021-22.

"Our focus on offering futuristic design, combined with cutting-edge technology, has helped us in winning the Indian market and new-age customers alike. With additional features and improvements in engine and transmission combinations in RDE-compliant vehicles, we are confident that we will continue our winning spree," Kia India VP and Head of Sales and Marketing Hardeep Singh Brar said in a statement.