As the semiconductor supply, which affected the industry for over two years, eases around the world car sales have also started showing signs of improvement.
The June 2022 sales numbers as announced by 10 of 16 passenger vehicle manufacturers is 3,06,162 units – a 26 percent year-on-year growth. Importantly, these 10 manufacturers sold more vehicles last month than the whole industry's sales of 2,31,633 units in June 2021, which is a 32 percent increase.
Here’s looking at how the top carmakers fared last month.
Maruti Suzuki India: 1,22,685 units / -1.28 percent
Maruti Suzuki had a subdued June with sales of 1,22,685 units, down 1.28 percent on June 2021’s 1,24,280 units. One can pin this marginal decline on production speed-breakers like the ongoing chip shortage issue, Maruti Suzuki getting ready to roll out the new Brezza, and the automaker's annual maintenance shutdown for a few days last month. In June 2022, the carmaker rolled out 1,40,478 units – 13.8 percent less than the 1,63,037 units produced in June 2021.
Nonetheless, the flush-with-SUVs market can be unforgiving and Maruti Suzuki saw its sales drop 34 percent in June 2022. The carmaker, which has an order backlog of 3,05,000 units in the domestic market, is soon expected to increase its production.
Hyundai Motor India: 49,001 units / 21 percent
India’s second largest carmaker by volume, Hyundai, despatched a total of 49,001 units, up 21 percent from June 2021’s 40,496 units. While the popular Creta continues to power its numbers, the company is seeing fresh traction for its new Venue facelift which was launched on June 16, priced at Rs 7,53,000 (ex-showroom). In May 2022, the pre-facelift Venue drove past the three-lakh sales figure.
Tata Motors: 45,197 units / 87 percent
Tata Motors has been putting up a fight with Hyundai for the No. 2 spot with sales of 45,197 units in June 2022, an 87 percent increase over June 2021's 24,110 units. Tata Motors grabbed the No. 3 position a few months ago, with the Nexon being their star performer.
Given the booming SUV market, it is not surprising that the company sees its SUV portfolio account for 68 percent of its first-quarter sales this fiscal.
Electric mobility is another area where Tata Motors is aggressively driving gains. The Nexon EV, which is India's bestselling EV, sold 3,507 units in June 2022, up 433 percent on the 658 units in June 2021 and a two percent increase over May 2022.
“Demand for passenger vehicles continued to stay strong in Q1 FY23 even as the supply side remained moderately impacted due to the lockdown in China,” said Shailesh Chandra, managing director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility. “Going forward, we expect the supply side, including that of critical electronic components, to progressively improve.”
Mahindra & Mahindra: 26,620 units / 59 percent
Mahindra & Mahindra continues to record strong growth, with the company having despatched 26,620 units in June 2022, up a sizeable 59 percent increase over June 2021's 16,913 units. However, month on month, June sales was down by a marginal 0.08 percent.
M&M was in the limelight in June for a couple of other reasons too: its flagship XUV700 won Global NCAP’s ‘Safer Choice’ award, the second Mahindra model after the XUV300 to do so. And on June 27, it launched the second-generation of one of its long-time bestsellers: the Scorpio N.
Kia India: 24,024 units / 60 percent
Kia India is on a roll. The Korean carmaker recorded sales of 24,024 units in June 2022, its highest ever monthly sales, and notched 60 percent YoY growth. The Kia Seltos and Carens lead the sales momentum with 8,388 and 7,895 units sold, respectively, followed by Sonet with 7,455 units and Carnival with 285 units sold.
Kia India remains a key contribututor to the OEM’s global sales, and in June, the Indian market contributed nine percent (24,024 units) to Kia’s global sales of 2,58,610 units. The Seltos sold 8,388 units in India, accounting for 41 percent of the SUV's sales outside Korea (20,545 units).
Toyota Kirloskar Motor: 16,500 units / 87 percent
Toyota (TKM) sold a total of 16,500 units in June 2022, thereby registering a growth of 87 percent over June 2021. The company also clocked a 26 percent growth in cumulative sales from January to June 2022, when compared to the corresponding period last year. In fact, half yearly cumulative sales have been the highest since 2019.
“The past month witnessed huge growth in terms of wholesales, thanks to the booking orders that most of our models enjoy,” said Atul Sood, associate vice president, Sales and Strategic Marketing, TKM. “The new Glanza has received tremendous response from our customers and continues to clock promising booking orders. Our self-charging hybrid electric vehicles – the Camry and Vellfire – have also received tremendous appreciation.”
Segment leaders like the Innova Crysta and Fortuner continue to have demand, and customer orders are on the rise. The Legender too continues to garner bookings.
Skoda India: 6,023 units / 721 percent
New products generally give carmakers a boost in a competitive market. For Skoda Auto, however, the launch of its 2.0 products – Slavia sedan and Kushaq SUV – have helped it increase its sales by a whopping 721 percent over the same period last year. The Czech carmaker sold 6,023 units in June 2022. Not surprisingly, June numbers have set a new monthly sales record for Skoda in India.
“Both our India 2.0 products have entered the market in an extremely challenging backdrop,” said Zac Hollis, brand director, Skoda Auto India. “A global pandemic, intermittent lockdowns, economic upheaval, geopolitical instability, and now, a continued semiconductor shortage upsetting supply chain.”
MG Motor India: 4,503 units / 26 percent
MG Motors has recorded sales of 4,503 units, up 26.56 percent, with the Hector and ZS EV drawing monthly bookings of over 4,000 and 1,000 units, respectively. According to the company, “The momentum in sales comes on the back of some ease in semiconductor availability, even though the outlook remains constrained in the wake of supply-chain roadblocks and persistent logistical headwinds.”
The company says it is taking all necessary steps to address the production and supply chain issues and expects the situation to gradually improve in the second half of 2022.
Ajit Dalvi
Hormazd Sorabjee
Sahil Kukreja
