Exports fuelled auto growth

Exports have come to the rescue of the Indian automobile industry in the first quarter of this financial year.

Taken alone, domestic sales growth in the April-June quarter was just 8.19% with 2,461,726 units against 2,275,330 units for the same quarter last year-a poor show when compared to quarter-after-quarter of robust double-digit growth till late last financial year.

But exports logged a healthy 25% growth at 361,306 units against the 289,829 units for the same period in 2007.  This saved the industry much embarrassment since overall growth touched the crucial 10% mark at 28,23,032 units against 25,65,159 last year.  However, exports growth was far from uniform-passenger vehicle and two-wheeler segments accounted for the bulk.

Data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers showed that among different vehicle categories in the domestic the maximum growth at 23.63% with 65,424 units against 52,918 the same quarter last year.  This was followed by passenger cars, which grew at 12.36% with 309,221 units against 275,208.

The biggest losers were three-wheeler goods carriers and electric two-wheelers, with moped sales remaining flat.  On the exports front, goods carriers led the pack with 487 units, more than four times the 117 units.

Passenger cars followed with a 46.5% increase to 66,119 units in the April-June quarter against 45,138 in the 2007 quarter.  Passenger carriers came next, logging 36.3% higher sales at 1,374 units from 1,008 units.  But moped exports declined by a whopping 70% to 1,832 units against 6,169 units.

Utility vehicles exports dipped 22% to 1,142 units from 11457 units.

Coming to specific sectors, domestic passenger cars sales in June this year rose by just 6.1% to 99,738 units from 94002 in June 2007.

Tow-wheeler sales rose by 6.4% to 6,01,941 units (5,65,433 units), sales.  Scooter sales fell 2.1% to 89,809 units (91,759 units).

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