Weak April Sales Hit Most Top Indian Carmakers As Demand Cools, Check Details
Last Updated:
Maruti has held up better due to SUV demand and fleet sales, while Hyundai and Tata have struggled amid fewer new launches as they derive two-thirds of their sales from SUVs.
News18
Three of India's top four carmakers reported weak sales to dealers in April, company data showed on Thursday, as buyers delayed purchases amid concerns about slowing economic growth.
Market leader Maruti Suzuki posted a marginal 0.6% year-on-year rise, while Hyundai Motor India and Tata Motors clocked declines of 11.6% and 5.1%, respectively.
Mahindra & Mahindra, in contrast, reported a near 28% jump in monthly sales, aided by strong demand for its 'XUV 3X0' and five-door 'Thar' SUVs.
That helped the 'Scorpio' maker overtake Hyundai and Tata Motors to the no. 2 spot in India's car market for the second time this year.
The four automakers together account for 80% of a market that saw record sales of 4.3 million units last year. Their combined sales were up about 1.4% in April, led largely by Mahindra.
WHY IT MATTERS
India's auto sector makes up 7% of GDP and is a major employer.
The country's economic growth is seen slowing down, with the central bank projecting full-year GDP growth of 6.5% for fiscal 2025, lower than the 9.2% recorded the year before.
KEY CONTEXT
Car sales are cooling as the post-pandemic pent-up demand, which propelled sales to record highs in past years, has faded. Growth slowed to 2% in financial year 2025, from 8% the previous year and 27% in fiscal 2023, with industry experts attributing the moderation to a broader economic slowdown.
Manufacturers expect car sales to grow 1%-2% this year, although some analysts expect growth to pick up by June or September on lower interest rates and a cut in personal income tax.
Phillip Capital said that buyers were postponing purchases, with the trend likely to continue for up to four months.
Maruti has held up better due to SUV demand and fleet sales, while Hyundai and Tata have struggled amid fewer new launches as they derive two-thirds of their sales from SUVs.
First Published:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
25 minutes ago
- India.com
Car Buyers' New Crush: 5-Star Safety, 33+ Km Mileage, 360-Degree Camera, Sunroof And More - Starts At Rs 6.84 Lakh; Now India's Best-Selling Model
english 2913717 India's Best-Selling Car In May 2025: While the Hyundai Creta was the top-selling car for two consecutive months, March and April 2025, it saw a sharp drop in the sales chart rankings in May 2025. With 14,860 units sold, the Hyundai Creta slipped to the fourth spot, while the top three positions were taken by Maruti cars. The Brezza (15,566 units) and Ertiga (16,140 units) secured the third and second spots, respectively, and the Dzire (18,084 units) topped the chart.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Hyundai Motor has rare earths stockpile that could last about a year
Hyundai Motor has a rare earths stockpile that can last about a year and it does not expect any near-term impact from global supply chain disruptions caused by China's export curbs, said a person who attended a company investor call. China's decision in April to restrict exports of a wide range of rare earths and related magnets has tripped up the supply chains central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world. The stockpiling by Hyundai, the world's No.3 automaker along with its affiliate Kia Corp, indicates it is better-placed than many competitors to withstand restrictions that have already impacted production or the supplier network of companies including Ford and BMW. A Hyundai investor relations official said the South Korean automaker had "far more wiggle room" than rivals with regard to rare earths-related supply chain issues affecting the industry, according to the attendee on the investor call, which was not open to the public. The official told investors Hyundai's efforts to diversify supply chains and improve procurement had succeeded and the company expected to be able to produce electric vehicles or hybrid cars without disruptions "for at least about one year," the attendee said. Hyundai also significantly boosted its rare earths inventories during a recent period when China had slightly relaxed its export restrictions, the official said, according to the attendee who spoke on condition of anonymity because the call was private. The South Korean automaker's stockpile of the key minerals had not been reported previously. It was not clear whether the inventory was solely stockpiled by Hyundai and its affiliate Kia or also included stocks held by their suppliers. "We continuously evaluate market conditions to ensure operational stability and maintain a diversified global supply chain," Hyundai said. "As part of our standard business practices, we maintain appropriate inventory levels to support uninterrupted production." China produces around 90 per cent of the world's rare earths, which are essential for the production of vehicles, especially electric vehicle motors. Hyundai Motor Group also holds about a one-year inventory of rare earths-related magnets needed for its mainstay EVs and hybrid vehicles, said a person familiar with the matter, declining to be named due to the sensitivity of the subject. China's dominance of the critical mineral industry is increasingly viewed as a key point of leverage for Beijing in the trade war sparked by US President Donald Trump's tariffs. US-China trade talks were set to extend to a second day in London on Tuesday as top economic officials from the world's two largest economies sought to defuse a bitter dispute that has widened from tariffs to restrictions over rare earths.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
We asked AI to imagine next-gen Mahindra Bolero. Here's what we got
The Mahindra Bolero is slated for a major makeover in its next-generation avatar. (AI-generated image) Check Offers The Mahindra Bolero remains one of the key utility vehicles in the Indian market, especially for those who seek the thrill of driving where there is no road or less road. Sitting alongside some of the bestselling SUVs in India, including Thar, Scorpio-N, Scorpio Classic, XUV 3XO, Thar Roxx, XUV 700, etc., the Mahindra Bolero range currently comprises three different models - Bolero Neo, Bolero Neo Plus and Bolero. The homegrown car manufacturer is working on the next-generation Mahindra Bolero. A test mule of the SUV was spotted on the Indian roads a few days back, with heavy camouflage. While the camouflage hid the design details, it was clear that the next-generation Bolero will come with a major makeover. We asked AI to imagine how the new generation SUV would look, and here's what we have got (See thumbnail). Also Read : Upcoming cars in India Mahindra has not revealed anything officially about the next-generation Bolero SUV, but considering the brand's history of introducing new models on August 15, we can expect the OEM to unveil the new generation Bolero this Independence Day. Next-generation Mahindra Bolero: What to expect The new generation Mahindra Bolero SUV is slated to get a heavily revamped exterior styling. Expect it to come resembling with the Mahindra Thar and Scorpio-N. The boxy silhouette of the SUV will still be in place, but there will be some significant updates. These changes will include a revised front grille with a new brand logo, revamped headlamps with LED daytime running lights, new flush-fitting door handles, redesigned quarter glass, large and new design multi-spoke alloy wheels, as well as new Scorpio-N-inspired vertical taillights. The next generation Mahindra Bolero might come underpinned by the automaker's New Flexible Architecture (NFA), which is a new modular platform for the next generation Mahindra SUVs. Mechanical specifications of the new platform are still classified. However, with the new Bolero already being tested on the roads, we expect to learn more details about the specifications in the coming weeks. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 10 Jun 2025, 09:38 AM IST
