Indian Car Sales Figures and Analysis

[SkyWalker]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

he was cursing its lack of fuel economy - very heavy on the gas he tells me.

If you realize it, deep down, based on general experience with GM right from Opel Astra, Swing, Corsa, Sail, Forester, Optra, SRV and everything, many of us dont completely trust them.

Their service is pretty poor too as is their re-sale value which is absolutely lousy. My other pal bought a used one and half year old Optra at 4.7 lacs ( the car cost 8 lacs on the road when it was first bought).

the classic problems with American cars like Ford & GM. Poor mileage, comparatively poor reliability after 3-4 years, and bad resale. Heck - people in America (notice i didn't say "Americans") don't buy US cars due to the same reasons.

No wonder most people stick to Japs for pocket friendly cars and Germans for great engineering.

[TeddyBear]

Originally Posted by SkyWalker

Now, this is a surprise. I had expected the TATA numbers to go up after CS lunch and the Sumo Grande/new Safari. I wonder whats really wrong with TATA!

SkyWalker, You have read only the first part of cumulative sales less that is due to low sales in Indica. but check the below box.

[quote=TeddyBear;824694]
The Indigo family registered sales of 3763 nos., an increase of 43% over April 2007. Sumo and Safari sales at 3650 nos, registered an increase of 9.3% over April last year.
quote]

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by SkyWalker

the classic problems with American cars like Ford & GM. Poor mileage, comparatively poor reliability after 3-4 years, and bad resale. Heck - people in America (notice i didn't say "Americans") don't buy US cars due to the same reasons.

No wonder most people stick to Japs for pocket friendly cars and Germans for great engineering.

Err, isn't Optra a German car, though from GM stable? If so, why the poor resale value, as quoted above by shanker.balan?

[reignofchaos]

Optra is a Daewoo not Opel.

[SkyWalker]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

Optra is a Daewoo not Opel.

isnt the car more than just the engine? take Palio 1.3 MJD and swift diesel - same engine but different brands and packaging makes a big difference in demand

[vasudeva]

I am extremely sorry that I have not been able to post official figures for April 2008 car sales because of (a) personal (medical) reasons (b) subscription renewal delays. Both have now been sorted out, and should post figures in a day or two. Sorry again.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by vasudeva

I am extremely sorry that I have not been able to post official figures for April 2008 car sales because of (a) personal (medical) reasons (b) subscription renewal delays. Both have now been sorted out, and should post figures in a day or two. Sorry again.

Good to know both issues sorted out. No need to be sorry mate You are educating all of us.

[neoonwheels]

Originally Posted by vasudeva

I am extremely sorry that I have not been able to post official figures for April 2008 car sales because of (a) personal (medical) reasons (b) subscription renewal delays. Both have now been sorted out, and should post figures in a day or two. Sorry again.

I was wondering why there is not a single post from Vasudeva since long on this thread.. Take care bro !!!

[sathya_nars]

Originally Posted by SkyWalker

it is high time they bring a diesel - if priced sensibly it will give Fiesta & Verna a run for their money.

I just don't understand car manufactures launching in India without diesels (SX4,Aveo) - when clearly diesel sells volumes.

IMHO diesel engine experts are few and Swift D engine borrowed from Fiat. Don't understand why MUL can't gain expertise with diesel engines. Tata has more expertise than MUL, but they too don't have diesel cars in premium C segment and D.

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by vasudeva

I am extremely sorry that I have not been able to post official figures for April 2008 car sales because of (a) personal (medical) reasons (b) subscription renewal delays. Both have now been sorted out, and should post figures in a day or two. Sorry again.

Hope you get well soon and become fighting fit to post those figures

[vasudeva]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

Hope you get well soon and become fighting fit to post those figures

OT: I am well so far. It is just that I was in hospital from 30/4-7/5 attending to my mother. So was my brother and family.

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by vasudeva

OT: I am well so far. It is just that I was in hospital from 30/4-7/5 attending to my mother. So was my brother and family.

Thanks for the update. I wish your mom a speedy recovery.

[vasudeva]

Have posted the April 2008 figures here:

vasudeva - DOMESTIC SALES
Key points:
Ignore 3/08 when comparing with 4/08 because of year end in 3/08.
Sales in 4/08 increased at a high rate compared with 4/07.
We would expect some increase in sales for 4/08 compared with 4/07. However, a careful look at the numbers reveal some fudging of 3/08 figures (or advance booking) for City and Dzire. How can City post a 22.6% decline over 4/08 and 70% over 3/08.
Really, 4/08 is not a typical month, and so comparisons may be irrelevant. Over the last 3-4 months, some model conclusions: (a) Success: i10, Dzire, 3-series (b) so/so and flops: Fabia, Indigo CS.

[appuchan]

Originally Posted by vasudeva

Have posted the April 2008 figures here:

vasudeva - DOMESTIC SALES
Key points:
Ignore 3/08 when comparing with 4/08 because of year end in 3/08.
Sales in 4/08 increased at a high rate compared with 4/07.
We would expect some increase in sales for 4/08 compared with 4/07. However, a careful look at the numbers reveal some fudging of 3/08 figures (or advance booking) for City and Dzire. How can City post a 22.6% decline over 4/08 and 70% over 3/08.
Really, 4/08 is not a typical month, and so comparisons may be irrelevant. Over the last 3-4 months, some model conclusions: (a) Success: i10, Dzire, 3-series (b) so/so and flops: Fabia, Indigo CS.

As usual, the mid-size segment looks quite interesting. See the chart below for the period from Apr 07 to Apr 08. NHC seems to be moving into a "perfect sine wave"

[vasudeva]

Wait for May 2008 press releases from manufacturers. The biggest change in the language could be from GM. They launched Spark in 4/07 and immediately saw a 2-2.5K increase per month. That appeared in the PRs as 50-60% sales increases.

Here is GM's year on year (yoy) sales increases which have been well noted in their PRs:

5/07: 56.2%, 12/07: 144.3%, 1/08: 46.1%; 2/08: 80.2%; 3/08: 50.5%; 4/08: a shocker at 24.3% (because of Spark numbers in both 4/07 and 4/08). My prediction for 5/08 (unless GM cuts Spark price by another 50K): 5-10%.