Mahindra released vehicle sales data in May
Mahindra’s tractor sales boom
The decline in auto vehicle sales
Commercial vehicle sales also decreased
MG Motors also released sales figures
After zero sales in April, Indian automakers opted to sell the cars online as the lockdown was implemented to prevent the infection from spreading. Due to this, most of the dealerships remained closed for the second consecutive month. Automakers resumed production operations carefully in May after lockdown restrictions were eased to bring economic activity back on track. Vehicle exports continued during this period but they constitute a very small portion of annual auto sales in India. Car sales online maybe just a way to be tried during the lockdown, but automakers have tried to increase sales in this way as well.
Sales in the Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (Mahindra and Mahindra Limited) form equipment division were almost the same as before. This suggests that perhaps India’s agricultural sector would have enjoyed the benefit of the exemption in lockdown applied due to the transition. The company sold 24,017 tractors last month. This is 2% higher than the 23,539 units sold in the year-ago period. Its export figures have come down drastically and it has fallen to only 324 units, down by 72 percent.
Hemant Sikka, president of Mahindra & Mahindra’s agricultural equipment sector, said in a statement, “The timely relaxation in lockdown for the agricultural sector could ensure rapid recovery in tractor demand during May.” He said that due to the production of good rabi crops, high procurement, good prices, and forecast of a normal monsoon, the farmer’s perception remains positive which is good for a good Kharif crop. “These are all good for increasing demand for tractors,” he said.
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd’s auto division witnessed a 79 percent decline in sales in May. The company sold only 9,560 units in May this year as compared to the same month last year. The company gave this information in a statement on Monday.
Passenger vehicle: 3,867 units, 20,608 units a year ago
Commercial Vehicles: 5,170 units, 17,879 units a year ago
Exports: 484 units, 2,365 units a year ago
Overall automotive sales of the company including domestic and export were 9,560 units in May 2020 as compared to 45,421 units in May 2019. “We have opened 70 percent of our dealerships and retailing has started,” Mahindra CEO Vijay Nakra said in a statement.
“Initially we are seeing demand for our small commercial vehicle and SUV brands such as the Bolero and Scorpio. With new lockdown norms being announced, we expect demand to increase in the coming months,” he said.
MG Motor India (MG Motor India) also released sales figures for the month of May. MG Motor reported that 710 vehicles were sold in May 2020. The company has resumed production at its Halol manufacturing plant in Gujarat with around 30 percent capacity. With this, work has also started in 65 percent of the company’s showrooms and service centers across the country.
Rakesh Sidana, director – sales, MG Motor India, on the company’s sales report, said, “Sales were affected in May due to the lockdown of some dealership operations, strict credit financing, and supply chain disruptions. Despite the decrease in production, Our front-end retail operations are staffed with a general staff strength. We are engaged with our customers, who are awaiting the delivery of Hector. Delivery will be prioritized as the supply chain improves in June. Sales will pick up when normalcy is restored from July onwards. BS6 units are in stock channels and dealership inventory of all our vehicles. “