In the first six months of the ongoing FY 2017-18 (April-September) saw the exports of passenger vehicles (cars, UVs and vans) declining marginally by 1.34% as the car industry exported 362,092 units out of India to its export markets. Constant domestic growth and high demands for SUVs in the Indian domestic market has seen a slight decline of exports for SUVs. The industry exported a total of 74,021 units of UVs in the first half of FY 2017-18 as compared to the same period in FY 2016-17. Total cars and vans exported stood at 287,183 units and 888 units respectively.
Surprisingly, Ford India overtook the country’s largest exporter Hyundai Motor India for the first time by exporting a total of 82,347 units and registering a growth of 11.55%. This is despite Ford’s exports declining by over 40% in the month of September. Hyundai Motor India on the other hand exported a total of 70,525 units out of its plant in Chennai posting a decline in growth by about 19%. Heavy domestic demand has forced Hyundai to cut down on its exports. The recently launch next gen Verna has already received over 15,000 bookings and with the festive season going on the number is just going to increase which might lead to further decline in exports. Hyundai Verna has just been introduced in the domestic market and the company is yet to start full fledged exports for the sedan. Hyundai Grand i10 and Hyundai Elite i20 remains the top export models for Hyundai from India.
Ford India did post a slight decline in its domestic sales by about 2% in the first six months of this financial year but strong exports have to over 50 countries has lead to increase in production at Ford’s plants in India. Ford exports to regions like ASEAN, Europe, Middle-East and Africa. Staring 2018, Ford Ecosport will also be exported to the American market from Ford’s Chennai plant which will again boost its exports from India. Ford Ecosport was the top exported model for the company and saw total exports of 39,935 units.
India’s largest automaker, Maruti Suzuki exported a total of 60,063 units in the first half of this year almost similar to what it exported in first half of last financial year. India built Maruti Suzuki Baleno for the first time is being exported to Maruti’s home country Japan from India and has helped to balance the declining exports of cars like Maruti Suzuki Alto and Maruti Suzuki Wagon R. In the UV space which consists of cars like Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Gypsy, Ertiga and S-Cross has seen a massive fall in exports to 1,999 units as against 5,101 units in the April-September 2016.
Indian arm of German automaker Volkswagen have increased its export activities to Mexico and other markets which has helped them to increase their exports by over 16.9% by exporting over 50,410 units between April-September 2017. Both Volkswagen Polo and Ameo combined saw a total exports of 8,980 units and Volkswagen Vento remained the top exported model for the company with an a total export count of 41,430 units. Earlier in July 2017, the company crossed a milestone of exporting 2.50 lakh units of India made left hand drive Polo and Vento cars.
General Motors might have shut shops for the India market but the company still continues to manufacture and export vehicles from its Talegaon assembly plant. GM India exported a total of 45,222 units from India in the last six months. The company ceased manufacturing at its Halol Assembly Plant on April 28, 2017 and Chinese based MG Motors have taken over the plant.
Indian automakers like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra continued to report weak export numbers as they enhance its focus on the domestic market. With the sales of Nissan Micra going south due to the launch of new generation Nissan Micra which is not being manufactured in India, Nissan India’s exports to declined by about 35%. Toyota Kirloskar Motor exported 8,393 units and Renault India exported about 6,238 units with demand for Kwid increasing in countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Source: financialexpress.com