Auto sales slow in May as dispatches for majors rise a tad
Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicles maker, on Saturday reported total domestic wholesales (dispatches to dealers) of 1,44,002 units in May, marginally up from the 1,43,708 units sold in the same month last year.
“The industry volume during the month (for passenger vehicles) is 3,50,257 units up from 3,35,436 units in May 2023, which is a growth of around 4.5 per cent,” Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti, told reporters adding that the company has an has an inventory of around 1.68 lakh vehicles.
Similarly, Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), registered YoY growth of 1.13 per cent in domestic wholesales to 49,151 units in May. “We have maintained a healthy total sales volume in May, despite a weeklong routine bi-annual maintenance shutdown at our Sriperumbudur (near Chennai) factory. SUVs continue to be the growth driver, accounting for more than 67 per cent of domestic sales last month. Our rural penetration stood at a healthy 20.1 per cent in May,” said Tarun Garg, Chief Operating Ocer, Hyundai. He said the company has a dealer stock of 44,774 units.
‘Seltos’ maker Kia India, registered single digit growth (5 per cent) in its sales to 19,500 units in May.
Tata Motors reported a growth of 2 per cent YoY to 46,697 units (45,878 units).
Mahindra & Mahindra’s May sales rose 17 per cent 43,218 units (32,883 units). “We sold a total of 43,218 SUVs in May, a growth of 31 per cent YoY, and total vehicle sales hit 71,682, a 17 per cent growth over May last year,” said Veejay Nakra, President, Automotive Division, M&M.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s May dispatches hit 25,273 units – a 24 per cent jump from 20,410 units sold in May 2023.
However, MG Motor India said it sold 4,769 vehicles in May, a decline of five per cent compared with the 5,006 units dispatched in the same month last year.
TWO-WHEELERS
In the two-wheeler segment, TVS Motor company registered a seven per cent YoY growth in its domestic sales to 2,71,140 units in May . Suzuki Motorcycle India also reported a 37 per cent sales growth. However, market leader Hero MotoCorp reported a decline of around six per cent to 4,79,450 units. Royal Enfield dispatches declined 10 per cent to 63,531 units (70,795 units).