Automobile sales in April declined in the domestic market, due to weak sentiments and postponement of purchases by buyers due to the ongoing general elections. Not only passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, even commercial vehicle sales were down for similar reasons.
“Tata Motors’ Commercial Vehicles (CV) domestic sales in April 2019 with 29,883 units registered a drop of 18 per cent compared to same period last year. The industry is yet to recover from the revised axle load norms while the postponement of demand due to general elections have also dragged down CV sales,” Girish Wagh, President, Commercial Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors, said.
As per the numbers shared by major companies till Thursday, the total CV segment sales were down by 8 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to 66,625 units in April (72,694 units). The two-wheeler industry has also taken a hit and was down 17 per cent YoY to 15,77,662 units (18,99,043 units).
Market leader Hero MotoCorp’s sales were down to 5,74,366 units (6,94,022 units) during April, a decline of 17 per cent.Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India reported a drastic decline of 32 per cent to 4,32,756 units (6,35,811 units).
However, Bajaj Auto saw some growth (2.5 per cent) in sales to 2,05,875 units (2,00,742 units);TVS Motor Company sales were up 3 per cent at 2,48,456 units (2,41,604); and Suzuki Motorcycle India also reported 9 per cent growth in sales at 57,072 units (52,237 units).
Royal Enfield’s sales dropped 21 per cent to 59,137 units (74,627 units).
In the passenger vehicles segment, home-grown companies Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra have reported decline in sales. While Tata Motors saw a decline of 26 per cent YoY, M&M reported 9 per cent drop during the month on a yearly basis.
“The industry has recorded decline for the tenth consecutive month. Weak consumer sentiments are reflected in this demand decline and we have also been impacted. We expect the demand to start growing on the back of our new generation vehicles,” Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors, said.