Domestic car sales in 2015 started on a low but ended on a high. While there were several factors, including a devastating natual calamity that challenged the sector, lots of positive factors made sure that passenger car sales grew throughout the year, with its share of ups and downs no less.
Domestic car sales in 2015 started on a low but ended on a high. The country's automobile sector was riled by a roll back of a cut in excise duty – excise duty cuts expired on December 31st last year – in the beginning of the year, and were brought under further pressure by a poor monsoon.
Every other month, however, the sector saw a spike in demand and sales, with most demand seen during the festive months of the year.
Several positive factors like low interest rates, low fuel prices, lots of new car launches, and pent-up demand made sure that the passenger car sales segment grew through the year despite a lot of factors pulling it down.
AT A GLANCE
Passenger cars segment in 2015
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January registered one of the lowest sales during the year.
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February and March too saw dismal growth.
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April, however, brought hopes of a revival with a huge spike in the domestic car sales growth, according SIAM data.
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This was short-lived; sales slumped in May and June.
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Numbers bounced back in July; August once again saw a decline in sales, while in September car sales improved just by a bit.
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Festive season came to the rescue, bringing over 20% growth in October.
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November and December was marred by a natural calamity when Chennai and parts of Tamil Nadu were flooded by the worst rains the region has seen in 100 years.
According to a PTI report, car sales grew for 13 straight months despite a lot of factors challenging the sector.
January
The year 2015 began with a slow start as domestic car sales rose 3.14% in January, which industry body SIAM described as "realistic levels" after excise duty benefits were rolled back on December 31, raising prices.
After a 15.26% growth in car sales in December, aided by advance purchases, car sales in January stood at 1,69,300 units as against 1,64,149 units in the year-ago period.
Domestic car sales up 3% in January; two-wheeler up 1%
Bestseller of the month: Maruti Suzuki Alto recorded the highest sales in January with 22,889 units sold during the month, followed by the Swift with 19,669 units.
February
Car sales in India grew by 6.85% in February this year. This reflected an improvement in consumer sentiment, which prompted industry body SIAM to expect that sales will remain in the positive territory with single digit growth this fiscal. Expectations that changes and announcements from the then upcoming Union Budget will boost growth in the sector, pushed demand in February.
India registers 7% growth in car sales in February, bikes down 8%
SIAM data showed that domestic passenger car sales stood at 1,71,727 units in February this year as compared to 1,60,717 units in the same month of 2014.
Best-seller or the month: Maruti Suzuki Alto with 25,673 units sold.
March
Domestic passenger car sales came down in March, but was still in the positive territory, growing 2.64% to 1,76,011 units in March, from 1,71,491 units in the same month of last year. Unseasonal rains in the month ruined harvest season for a lot of farmers and affected rural market sales.
Slow recovery: Domestic car sales jump 2.64% in March
Vehicle sales across categories registered a decline of 0.15%, SIAM said.
Best-seller of the month: Maruti Suzuki Alto with 24,961 units sold.
April
Domestic passenger car sales bounced back and grew 18.14% to 1,59,548 units in April compared to the 1,35,054 sold in the same month last year. This was the fastest rate of growth in 30 months, as the auto industry rode on the road to recovery on improved consumer sentiments, new models and favourable fuel prices.
Best-seller of the month: Maruti Suzuki Alto continued its run as the top selling car by selling 21,531 units in April.
Car sales grow 18.14% in April, fastest in 30 months
May
Domestic car sales came down from the high in April, growing by 7.73% to 1,60,067 units in May, from 1,48,577 units in the year-ago month. Only Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors recording a double-digit growth in the month.
Car sales in India grew at a healthy 7.73% in May
Best-seller of the month: Maruti Suzuki Alto was the top selling car during the month with sales of 22,595 units.
June
With passenger cars sales grew by 8.57% in June, compared to the same period last year.
The poor rains during the month brought on fears of a weak monsoon this year and the slow demand from rural India had resulted in slower growth during the month.
Best-seller of the month: Maruti Suzuki continued its dominance but it was the Dzire which sold most units in the month – 21,866 units.
June passenger vehicle sales may remain flat or slightly low
July
Domestic passenger car sales jumped 17.47% to 162,022 units in July, from 137,922 units sold in the same month of last year, driven by a revival in monsoons, several new launches and a decline in fuel prices.
Best-seller of the month: Maruti Suzuki Dzire stayed on top of the list of most sold cars during the month with 23,086 units in sales.
Domestic car sales up 17.47% in July
August
Car sales grew for the 10th consecutive month, rising 6.06% in August, as the auto industry continued its drive on a slow road to recovery partly driven by new model launches.
Sales growth in the month was almost entirely driven four new models -- Hyundai Creta (7,437 units), Honda Jazz (5,400 units), Ford Aspire (5,176 units) and Maruti Suzuki S Cross (4,602 units).
Domestic car sales up 6%, motorcycles down nearly 8% in August
In August, domestic car sales stood at 1,63,093 units as against 1,53,781 units in the same month in 2014.
Best seller of the month: Maruti Suzuki Alto took over as the top selling car during the month with the sales of 23,017 units.
September
New car models, inflation at historic lows, and easing interest rates, pushed expectations of growth for the automobile industry this fiscal, SIAM said. Apart from this, the upcoming festive season then also pushed growth during the month.
Car sales in India rose 9.47% in September, rising for the 11th consecutive month.
In September, domestic car sales stood at 1,69,590 units as against 1,54,898 units in the same month last year.
Best-seller of the year: Maruti Suzuki Alto continued to steer ahead of competition to be the top selling car with 20,658 units sold during the month.
Car sales jump 9.47% in September, expect 6-8% industry growth in FY16: SIAM
October
Car sales surged a whopping 21.8% in October, 12th consecutive month of growth, as robust festive season purchases brought much-needed cheer to the auto industry.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gave a huge surprise by cutting key policy rates by 0.50% n the fourth bi-monthly policy review which lowered car loans and boosted sales.
According to SIAM data, domestic car sales in October stood at 1,94,158 units as compared to 1,59,408 units in the same month of 2014
Best-seller of the month: Maruti Suzuki Dzire took the top selling spot with 24,502 units sold during the month, closely followed by Maruti Suzuki Alto with 22,861 units.
Domestic car sales up 22% in October: SIAM
November
Domestic passenger car sales rose 10.39% to 1,73,111 units in November from 1,56,811 units in the same month a year ago. After robust October sales, domestic cars demand got a push on the back of festive season discounts.
While Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ford and Renault saw a large double-digit growth in sales, Honda Cars, Toyota and Tata Motors registered a decline in sales.
Best-seller of the month: Maruti Suzuki Alto once again returned to the top with sales of 21,995 units during the month. Newly launched Maruti Suzuki Baleno got off to a flying start with sales of 9,074 units and was the 6th most sold car during November.
Domestic car sales rise 10.39% in November: Siam
December
While the numbers for the month of December will only come out in early January, the passenger car segment is expected to take a hit on the back of the severe floods in Chennai.
Heavy rains in Chennai have reportedly disrupted the production of auto manufacturers such as Ford Motor, BMW AG and Renault.
Ford's largest Indian plant was closed as its employees were not able to reach work. BMW also had reportedly shut down its operations for a day, while Renault had cancelled two production shifts due to the floods. This is second time production has had to stop during the month due to the heavy rains that has hit the region.
Ashok Leyland had also halted production at its Ennore factory due to heavy rains.
Auto manufacturers such as Hyundai Motors, Daimler AG's truck business, Royal Enfield, also have their factories in Chennai and suspended operations at their plants or reduced production shifts. Even delivery time of new cars was affected due to the floods. All these reasons will likely erase sales volume for the month.
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