The automobile Industry is most representative of a country's economic well-being (or otherwise). Economists the world over consider automotive production & sales figures , presence of the BIG 5 , competition offered by local manufacturers , exports, Foreign Direct Investment inflow and various other factors to gauge the economic strength of a country. Taking these factors point by point, India is poised to cross the 1 million annual sales mark for the FIRST TIME ever in her history. The worlds 5 biggest manufacturers have now been present in India for a while, offering a slew of models while at the same time increasing their commitment to India by localization, developing India as an export base, the latest models (no hand me downs), capital investments and working proactively with local governments.
Maruti, Tata and Mahindra are the three local manufacturers fighting tooth and nail with the MNC's by designing and producing models that are relevant to the Indian car scenario. Just look at the Tata Indica which sells at 8000+ cars per month or at the Mahindra Scorpio which has proved itself as a viable alternative to the Toyota Qualis.
In addition, vendor suppliers such as those from the TVS and MICO-BOSCH group have created fantastic reputations for themselves world-wide as reliable and cost-efficient suppliers of the highest quality goods. No surprise then that Sundaram Fasteners had won the General Motors "Supplier of the year award" 4 times in a row...and this while competing with majors from all over the world.
Exports is the only one area that the Indian automotive sector has been traditionally weak in. However with fresh incentives from the government and production of now-world class models, exports have also been on the rise.
Take a look at the following figures for March 2003:
1. Maruti accounted for its highest monthly sales ever at 44,418 domestic sales in March alone!! In addition it exported 8282 cars in the last month of the previous fiscal.
2. Hero Motors witnessed a sales surge of 66% in march, with a sales tally of 192,000 in ONE MONTH!
3. Ford India rolled out 3200 Ikons, Mondeos and Endeavors
4. Toyota moved 44,000 cars (up 40%) off its Indian showrooms in the latest fiscal, with march sales at 4,410 cars. The Corolla sold almost 10000 cars in 2003-2004 while the Camry fared about 1100 units.
5. To cope with the increase in demand, Hyundai had to increase its production from a previously estimated 190,000 cars to 2,15,000 for the last fiscal.
These numbers bring with them a huge feel-good factor, dont they?
Toast...
GTO
Sales figures sourced from
Indiacaryea pal they are really good to read. Sure India's shining. But then again are companies ready to cope with such nos. in sales?
Honda has waiting lists on all its cars that run anywhere between 1.5-7 months. Then their dealers behave very high-handedly (you've experienced it too)
GM is selling so many Optras, but where are the service stations. So is Skoda.
Selling great nos. is ok till u beef it up with good ASS. O/wise customers will just walk away to the competition. Proof of it is three cos. committed to India, Maruti, Hyundai (even thoe i hate it) and Toyota.
And one look at even Maruti's sales tells you why they are no. 1. My own test-drive experience at Maruti last week with the Baleno was so pleasant, the fact that they've won the JD Power CSS 4 years in a row becomes all evident with just one such visit.
Revvmaster
