Auto sales skid in May as second wave of Covid-19 bites

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Major automobile manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, and Toyota Kirloskar announced their domestic passenger vehicle sales on June 1. The auto sector wholesales during May were impacted by the second covid wave-induced lockdowns and restrictions in various states.

Maruti Suzuki:

The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) reported a 71% decline in total sales to 46,555 units in May 2021 as compared to 1,59,691 units in April as a spike in Covid-19 cases and lockdowns across various states hit dispatches. The company reported domestic sales of 35,293 units, down 75% from 1,42,454 units in April 2021. Exports in May were down 35% at 11,262 units as against 17,237 units in April this year.

Hyundai Motor India:

The country’s second-largest carmaker,  reported total sales of 30,703 units in May, a decline of 48% from 59,203 units it had sold in April this year. Domestic sales stood at 25,001 units last month as against 49,002 units in April with a dip of 49%.  In May 2020, the company had sold 6,883 units in the domestic market. Exports were at 5,702 units last month, down by 44% from 10,201 units in April.  Coronavirus-induced restrictions across states have hit dispatches to dealers.

Tata Motors:

Tata Motors recorded a total sales of 2,6661 units down by 36% as compared to 41,858 units in April 2021. The company had sold 4,418 units in May last year. Domestic sales declined by 38% to 24,552 units in May as compared to 39,530 vehicles in April this year.

The auto major said its passenger vehicle sales in the domestic market stood at 15,181 units in May, down 40% from 25,095 units in April this year. While Commercial vehicle sales in the domestic market stood at 9,371 units, down 35% from 14,435 units in April, it added.

M&M Motors:

Mahindra & Mahindra’s (M&M) total sales declined by 52% to 17,447 units in May 2021 as compared with April this year on account of lockdown in various states. Passenger vehicle sales in the domestic market stood at 8,004 units last month, down 56% from 18,285 units in April 2021. While commercial vehicle sales declined by 53% to 7,508 units in May as against 16,147 units in April this year. The company said its exports last month stood at 1,935 units in May as compared with 2,005 units in April.

“We are seeing a strong growth momentum for our entire product portfolio. The Thar is clocking robust bookings, despite extended waiting periods. XUV300 has been a tremendous success and continues to see strong demand,” M&M Chief Executive Officer Automotive Division Veejay Nakra said.

Honda Cars India:

The company reported a 78% decline in its domestic sales to 2,032 units last month as compared to 9,072 units in April this year. The company had sold 375 units in the domestic market in May 2020 during the operational restrictions of the Covid-19 led national lockdown last year.  The company said it exported 385 units in May 2021.

“With the increase in the pace of vaccination and the declining cases, the company expects markets will open gradually allowing business continuity,’’  Honda Cars India Senior Vice President and Director (Marketing & Sales) Rajesh Goel said in a statement.

Bajaj Auto:

Bajaj Auto sold 2,71,862 units in May 2021, up 114% against 1,27,128 units sold in the same month last year. The company had sold 4,19,235 units of total sales in May 2019. Domestic sales stood at 60,830 units, up 52%  to 40,074 units during the period under review. The company’s exports jumped 142% to 2,11,032 units in May from 87,054 units in the same month of the previous year.