[Coolman]

Amazing month this... Some new Highs and some new Lows!

Highs:

• Sail Sedan showing numbers
• Amaze Sedans shipped!
• Bolero close to 12K!!!
• 800 crosses 2K for the first time in few months, Dzire at 20K+ beats Swift (is this the first time?), Ertiga at 6K+
• Duster crosses 6K
• Innova at 8K+, New Etios close to 5K, New Liva close to 4K
• Vento at 3K+

Lows:

• Polo down to 3K
• i20 down to less than 7K
• A-Star down to less than 1K
• Micra down to less than 0.5K

Overall:

• In the last 12 months Maruti crossed 100K only on 2 occasions - last March and this January. March 2013 - crosses 100K again!
• Toyota is at close to 20K (for the first time I presume). It is at position 4 just 6K short of Mahindra at position 3. Just last month it was close to 50% short of Mahindra.
• Last time Honda did 10K was last March. March 2013 - crosses 10K again. Shall we say an Amaz(e)ing turnaround!
• Ford at 5K. An year back, Figo alone brought home numbers in the range of 6-7K.

What a month, indeed!

And as usual, thanks for the wonderful Analysis, GTO!

Thanks
C_

[SDP]

Couple of observations:
1. Looking at the segment-wise charts, its interesting to note how one car in each segment clearly dominates the segment - be it Alto in the A1 segment or Fortuner in the D2 segment. I mean, there are no "close-seconds".

2. Mahindras seem to be losing the plot with the XUV5OO. The sales have been declining since last 6 months and is clearly off its peak by 30-33%!

[shobhit.shri]

Just noticed that Vento/Rapid duos are selling about as much as the segment leader Verna! Considering that these two are essentially the same cars, VW is close to getting market leader position in C2 segment.

[agambhandari]

Originally Posted by GTO

The entry-level Sail sedan outsells its under-performing hatchback sibling for the 2nd month in a row. Both cars however look old and this doesn’t go well with the market.

Looks like the bad numbers of the Sail Sedan are due to manufacturing constraints. Look at this ad from Chevrolet.


A similar ad in yesterday's newspaper told about "Chevrolet working on speedy delivery to customers of their favorite chevrolet"

[karan561]

In 2012-13 it was good to see how the Automotive companies cope with the slowdown with ever increasing fuel prices, capacity problems, strikes / man power issues etc

Lets see in 2013-14 with ever increasing input costs, wage hikes etc if & how the Auto companies offer quality products without cutting corners

[EagleEye]

Originally Posted by GTO

Skoda’s numbers have dropped to a dismal average of 2,000 / month since July 2012. Trouble is, there are no signs of improvement. After spending 13 years in the country, the company doesn’t have 1% market share; later entrants like Renault & VW enjoy a share that’s 3 – 4 times higher. Tough times that call for tough measures, if you ask me.

Originally Posted by volkman10

Skoda - Nothing happening here, Rapid deserves to see more numbers or is it the New Octavia that would save Skoda?

I would like to see their numbers fall and fall until the company is on the precipice of bankruptcy, and maybe then someone at the top will be shocked into the realization as to how atrocious their customer service really is and how many prospective customers are being put off by it.

[M35]

Originally Posted by SDP

2. Mahindras seem to be losing the plot with the XUV5OO. The sales have been declining since last 6 months and is clearly off its peak by 30-33%!

Yes. But what could be the reasons?

• The novelty factor has died down
• Duster has certainly eaten in to XUV's territory
• Some potential W6 buyers waiting for the Top end Ecosport
• The official recall announcement for XUV must have given a negative publicity in addition to already existing niggles related buzz.
• Not any more a VFM product or more VFM options on cards [subjective]

At the same time the not so new workhorses, Scorpios and Innovas still going consistently strong.

[ACM]

We are looking at tough times ahead, April is also likely to be a bad month. With no March end pressure to push it Apr figures could be quite telling.

Do we see any of the manufacturers giving up on India?

TATA obviously can't, and HM can only close but not walk out. But GM, Fiat, Skoda, Nissan must all be quite worried. Nope all have major investments in India and a walk out is just not feasable but it will be a tough market.

Wonder why the reportedly significant pay hikes were given out in such a market situation, don't see executives except at M&M, Toyota, Renault and to some extent Maruti deserving it.

[9thsphinx]

Fantastic analysis as always GTO.

Pretty amazing how Sonata has managed to sell exactly 20 cars every month even with it's fairly high price and the lack of an oil-burner engine, that is. The immediate competitor, Honda Accord, seems to be doing fairly well, maybe due to the fact that there are no news of the new generation Accord coming to India anytime soon. Or is there?

I am just floored to see stats on the Duster. What a comeback Renault!

[nkrishnap]

As usual the reports is superb. Great to see the petrol Vs diesel list growing.

Maruti is for sure building up inventories and reducing waiting period for the Dzire to ensure the customer dont see else where due to waiting periods.

With Innova and Fortuner, Toyota is laughing all the way to the bank. With the elections around the corner in Karnataka could be a reason for the Landcruisers at 30 and with a good chunk coming from Karnataka Babus putting money on it. The Etios and Liva numbers have grown after a refresh. The next 2-3 months will tell the real story.

Renault should be really happy with Duster being the major product for them, at the same time the risk associated in losing numbers is also evident once the Ecosport comes out.

Honda's numbers can only grow the Amaze getting launched on the 11th April, and I guess they would be cursing about the supply constraint at the factory.

April will be an interesting month for all manufacturers knowing the stock that has happened in March.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

March 2013 cars sales -

1. Alto - 27,356 - Ok, expected!
2. DZire - 20078 - WTH?
3. Swift - 19654 - Thats 39,752 Swifts with and without boot!

Man, Maruti Suzuki is truly on a roll here! Amaze has an interesting fight on its cards!

[vb-saan]

For me, the biggest surprise for the month is the Fluence – impact of the new advt. campaign maybe?

And pretty good month for VW, especially for the Vento (figures almost double of its sibling Rapid).

[anu21v]

Nicely compiled report. Waiting for the report for Last 3 days. This has been the late-most this report has been published....wondering which company's data came in so late?

Originally Posted by GTO

Along with Tata, Chevrolet faces the biggest branding challenges.

Also Quite incredulously both the companies which is facing branding challenge has been or being managed by Mr Slym.
Chevy has been showing some spike in sales number though.

Good Luck Tata and chevy.

[aniketi]

Which is the most consistent performer in the market? Any guesses? Its Hyundai Sonata. Last 6 months its selling exactly 20 units Is there any supply constraints or Hyundai just happy with 20 numbers?

How time has changed. Not long ago Tata was battling for no 2 spot with Hyundai. Now soon they have to fight for no 6 or 7 spot. They have to blame themselves only for this. They need to look beyond Indica / Indigo now. There quality is really pathetic in some areas. Do something soon Tata. Else people will say TATA to you.

Numbers of Innova, Xylo, Scorpio, Duster, Ertiga etc shows that people are clearly going for bigger cars. People want cars which can handle bad roads easily. People want bigger
space as well.

No comments for Fiat & Chevy. They need to find answers themselves.

[volkman10]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

March 2013 cars sales -
1. Alto - 27,356 - Ok, expected!
2. DZire - 20078 - WTH?
3. Swift - 19654 - Thats 39,752 Swifts with and without boot!

Should be 39,732 , you have added more numbers to it?

Cheers!