September 2013 has proven to be an average month, if not good for the Indian automotive industry, with top automakers including Tata Motors, Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra and General Motors recording a negative growth. However, Maruti Suzuki India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Ford India clocked higher numbers.
The biggest gainer of all in terms of growth percentage has been Ford India, which reported a superb 51% hike over the corresponding month last year, thanks to all new Ford EcoSport. India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India too rose 11.7% to 1, 04,964 units. The growth, however, was mainly led by export sales, which inspected a three-fold growth in September to 14,565 units. Domestic sales for the company saw a marginal 1.8% rise. Toyota Kirloskar Motor has been the third carmaker among top-sellers, which recorded a positive 9% growth to 15,975 units.
The home-grown auto giants, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra failed to do well during September as well. Where Tata Motors' domestic sales were down by 35% to 45,998 units, exports too were down 19% at 4,429 units.
Mahindra & Mahindra, country's leading utility vehicle maker could manage to sell 43,289 units in September, recording a 10% decline on year, with exports falling 12% and domestic sales 10%.
India's largest passenger vehicle exporter and no. 2 carmaker Hyundai Motor's sales growth to was negative. Hyundai could sell a total 51,418 cars, recording a fall of 4% over corresponding month, last year. American automajor General Motors' Indian subsidiary reported around 5% de-growth in its sales at 7,048 units in September 2013.
Economic slowdown, depreciating Rupee value and rising fuel prices are three major factors, which have keeping the volumes low. However, with Indian Rupees getting stronger now, we are hoping the economy to get back on track soon.
