Leading carmakers Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai on Thursday reported a dip in wholesales in July as companies reduced vehicle dispatches to dealers amid moderation in demand. Maruti Suzuki India said its total domestic passenger vehicle sales stood at 137,463 units in July against 152,126 units in the year-ago month, down 9.64 per cent.
Hyundai Motor India on Thursday downplayed apprehensions that its premium hatchback offering 'Getz' was under 'threat' following the launch of Suzuki's 'Swift' in the same segment, at a relatively cheaper price.
'...the auto industry to get back to 7% to 8% annual growth.' 'High growth in the SUV segment alone will not achieve this, as it is a small market.'
The automobile industry has sought government support in expediting approvals from the Chinese government for importing rare earth magnets used in various applications, including passenger cars. As per the industry sources, various domestic suppliers have already sought approval from the Chinese government through their local vendors in China.
Hoping to turn the tables on Japanese rival Maruti Suzuki's Swift, Korean car major Hyundai will launch a new version of its premium hatchback Getz under a new name Getz Prime by the end of this month in India.
The Italian car company Fiat's much-awaited launch of the year, Grande Punto hatchback, which is expected to take on Maruti Suzuki's Swift and Hyundai's Getz, will not be priced close to the two models.
Amid challenging market environment, Maruti Suzuki India and Mahindra & Mahindra reported an increase in vehicle dispatches to dealers last month while Tata Motors and Hyundai saw a year-on-year drop in sales.
Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor India on Monday reported a dip in passenger vehicle dispatches to dealers in the domestic market last month as the companies tried to adjust vehicle inventory amid slowing demand. Maruti Suzuki India said it "calibrated supplies" to the dealers, aligning with the industry's retail sales projections amid India-Pakistan conflict and a dip in sales of entry-level cars.
Maruti Suzuki India's production in December 2022 was lower by 17.96 per cent at 124,722 units, according to a regulatory filing by the company. The company had a total production of 152,029 units in the same month a year ago. Production in mini cars and compact segment, comprising models such as Alto, S-Presso, Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift and WagonR, was lower at 83,753 units last month as compared to 106,090 units in December 2021.
Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) said on Thursday its operations are unaffected by the global rare earth magnet shortage, but added that the situation is "uncertain and evolving". The firm said it is exploring multiple solutions to maintain continuity in operations and will notify stakeholders in case of material impact.
'We remain in touch with the Chinese side, in Beijing as well as in Delhi, to bring predictability in the supply chain.'
The 17 rare earth elements that are at the centre of the current crisis are critical components of everyday products -- from cars to jet engines to electronics like smartphones and flat-screen TVs.
The new Swift has been built on the fifth-generation HEARTECT platform, which improves the hatchback's strength and rigidity while also benefitting its power to weight ratio.
Leading passenger vehicle maker Maruti Suzuki on Saturday reported marginal growth while Hyundai and Tata Motors posted a decline in their sales in February as a slowdown in the market continued with demand remaining muted. On the other hand, Mahindra & Mahindra and Toyota Kirloskar Motor posted double-digit growth riding on their SUV and MPV models.
Maruti Suzuki India and Hyundai reported single-digit sales growth in July with the sports utility segment continuing to drive overall demand in the market. Mahindra & Mahindra witnessed a 29 per cent increase in passenger vehicle dispatches while Tata Motors saw a marginal increase in the wholesales last month. Maruti Suzuki on Tuesday said its total domestic passenger vehicle sales stood at 152,126 units last month as compared to 142,850 units in the year-ago month, a growth of 6 per cent.
Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday reported a 28 per cent rise in exports at 263,068 units in 2022, its highest ever overseas shipments. The company's previous highest exports was achieved in 2021 with 205,450 units. The highest exported models in 2022 were Dzire, Swift, S-Presso, Baleno and Brezza, the company said in a statement.
The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India on Monday said it has hiked prices of hatchback Swift and CNG variants of other models by up to Rs 15,000. The price change for Swift and all CNG variants is owing to an increase in various input costs, Maruti Suzuki India said in a regulatory filing.
The Mahindra's Scorpio-N becomes the first body-on-frame chassis SUV to secure a five-star Global NCAP rating.
The company is wooing smaller towns to create awareness for Etios to be launched in December.
While Maruti held the top spot for four decades, the Ambassador was the best-selling car in post-Independence India for three decades.
Sedans and hatchbacks have both lost market share to SUVs, which now account for more than 50% share of the 4 million-odd-unit PV market in the country.
The driver told the police that he was not aware that the body was stuck under the car and attributed it to poor visibility caused by dense fog.
After a long delay, Thailand opened its twice-postponed Bangkok international motor show to the public as coronavirus restrictions eased, with nearly all attendees wearing masks and face shields.
Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors reported a decline in wholesales in September as the companies curtailed dispatches to dealers to reduce inventory build-up amid a decline in demand. Maruti Suzuki India reported a 4 per cent dip in total domestic passenger vehicle wholesales last month to 144,962 units compared to 150,812 units in the year-ago month. The auto major said sales of mini segment cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, grew marginally to 10,363 units against 10,351 units in September 2023.
Car sales are experiencing a challenging phase with around Rs 60,000 crore worth of inventory lying unsold with dealers.
Expected to launch by month-end.
While the latest, fourth-generation Swift makes no pretence of being a performance car or the last word in luxury, what it does stand for is amply evident, notes Pavan Lall.
The numbers are in sharp contrast to the demand the company's premium hatchback Maruti Suzuki Swift had seen.
The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) witnessed a 3 per cent drop in production last month. In a regulatory filing, the auto major reported total production of 145,560 units in November compared to 150,221 units in November 2020. "The shortage of electronic components had a minor impact on the production of vehicles during the month," it noted.
Auto majors Maruti Suzuki India and Hyundai reported muted sales performance in October as the companies curtailed dispatches to dealers in order to cut inventory build up.
It is Rs 24,500 costlier than the existing model.
The company has sold over 12 lakh models of this car till date.
Maruti has plans to rev up sales of the Dzire, India's fourth most-sold car, by relaunching it.
Maruti Suzuki India on Thursday said it is likely to raise in the next few weeks, the price of its entry level sedan Swift DZire to offset high input costs.Based on the Swift platform, Maruti has priced this entry level Sedan in Mumbai from Rs 4.70 lakh for petrol and at Rs 5.60 lakh for diesel (ex-showroom).
Ford launches all-new Figo, price starts at Rs 4.29 lakh.
Priced at Rs 754,689, this is the sixth model from the company's portfolio after Alto, WagonR, Swift, Baleno and Dzire to be BS-VI compliant.
The automaker says it has taken into account some of the big concerns of those behind the wheels today: improved acceleration performance, strength and rigidity, spacious and a more comfortable driving experience.
Maruti Suzuki India said on Wednesday it has run out of stock of the two best selling models, Swift and DZire, which are produced at the Manesar plant where it has declared lockout following violence last week.
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