Tata Motors expects modest growth in the construction and mining sectors in the fourth quarter of this fiscal or early next fiscal.
Addressing reporters here at Excon 2013, CII’s construction equipment expo, Vinod Sahay, who heads sales and marketing of medium and heavy commercial vehicles at the company, said: “Currently the industry is in slowdown phase. Infrastructure spend by the government has come to a standstill.” The industry at present is driven by orders from the paramilitary and army sectors. Despite the slowdown, the company has been able to increase market share by 6 per cent, he said.
“During the first half of this fiscal, Tata Motors acquired a 60 per cent market share as compared to the 54 per cent it clocked in the same period last year,” he added. Total construction equipment vehicle sales currently is 8,000-10,000 this year as compared to an industry high of 16,000-17,000 witnessed during 2009 to 2011.
“Tata motors in this period of slowdown is introducing new products driven by powerful and fuel-efficient engines. This is being done to maintain market share,” he said, adding that the company is also offering prices that customers are looking for.