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Informist, Thursday, May 15, 2025

 

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--SIAM: 2-wheeler despatches likely to pick up in coming months 
--SIAM: April 2-wheeler sales fell on year due to high base effect 
--SIAM: April 3-wheeler output 76,603 units, up 4.1% on year 
--SIAM: April 2-wheeler output 1.85 mln units, down 4.1% on year 
--SIAM: April passenger vehicle output 389,202 units, up 10.8% on year 
--SIAM: April total vehicle exports at 455,330 units, up 15.6% on year 
--SIAM: India April 3-wheeler sales 49,441 units, down 0.7% on year 
--SIAM: India April motorcycle sales 871,666 units, down 22.7% on year 
--SIAM: India April scooter sales 548,370 units, down 5.7% on year 
--SIAM: India April 2-wheeler sales 1.46 mln units, down 16.7% on year 
--SIAM: India April passenger vehicle sales 348,847 units, up 3.9% on year 

 

MUMBAI – Automobile companies got off to a dull start in 2025-26 (Apr-Mar) as despatches to dealerships contracted 9% on year to 2.3 million units in April, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers on Thursday. As was the case in the last few months, domestic sales contracted, while exports increased. Domestic two-wheeler sales, which form a significant portion of the overall auto sales pie, fell 17% in April due to a high base. 

 

Exports continue to be the silver lining in the face of falling automobile sales in India. While domestic automobile despatches contracted over 13% year-on-year, exports grew nearly 16%. Companies exported 455,330 units, up from 393,758 units a year ago. Exports formed 20% of overall despatches in April, up from 16% a year ago.

 

Companies sold 1.8 million automobile units to dealerships in the country in April, compared to 2.1 million units in the same month a year ago. Production fell 1.7% on year to 2.3 million units.

 

Domestic passenger vehicle despatches in April stood at 348,847 units, up 3.9% on year. According to SIAM, this was the best ever April for this segment. Wholesale sales of passenger cars fell 5.4% on year to 91,148 units, while utility vehicle despatches increased 12.1% to 201,062 units. Exports of passenger vehicles grew nearly 20% on year to 59,395 units, mainly driven by 64% growth in despatches of utility vehicles to 31,115 units. 

 

Passenger cars, which account for 47% of overall exports, fell nearly 8% on year to 27,947 units. Companies pushed the pedal on production despite a domestic lull, as output grew 11% on year to 389,202 units. Hyundai Motor India Ltd. registered the strongest growth in production in April, up 17% on year at 31,100 units. 

 

TWO-WHEELER DESPATCHES

This segment contributes 80% to overall automobile despatches by Indian two-wheeler makers. Despatches of all three sub-segments of two-wheelers contracted year-on-year in the first month of FY26. Companies sold 1.5 million two-wheelers in April, compared to 1.8 million units a year ago. SIAM attributed this fall to a high base, and expects it to improve going ahead. In a post-earnings analyst conference call, Hero MotoCorp Ltd. had said it expected the industry to grow 6-7% in FY26.

 

Motorcycles account for nearly 60% of two-wheelers sold in India. Their domestic despatches fell 23% on year to 871,666 units. However, companies exported 313,008 units during the month, up 23% on year. Wholesale sales of scooters fell 6% to 548,370 units in India, and recorded a sharper 18?ll to 53,879 units in the overseas markets.

 

Companies produced 1.9 million two-wheelers in April, down 4.1%. Hero MotoCorp, the leader in the two-wheeler segment domestically with a 29% market share, contributed the most to this output decline. The company produced 303,030 units in April, much lower than 508,612 units produced in April last year. The Splendor maker had halted production at four of its manufacturing outlets for three days in April due to short-term supply chain alignment measures.

 

THREE-WHEELER DESPATCHES

Despatches of three-wheelers in India fell a mere 0.7% to 49,441 units in April. Domestic despatches of passenger carriers grew 2% on year to 40,167 units and overseas sales increased 22% to 27,278 units. Despatches of goods carriers contracted 8% on year to 8,135 units. Their exports doubled to 246 units in April from 122 units a year ago, with growth being aided by a very low base. Demand for electric three-wheelers in India sobered down in April, as despatches of e-rickshaws fell 37% on year to 830 units.

 

Companies manufactured 76,603 three-wheelers in April, registering year-on-year growth of 4.1%, mainly driven by output of passenger carriers. Companies made 67,252 passenger carriers in April, up a little over 8% on year. E-rickshaw production fell 60% to 571 units. The output of goods carriers in April was 8,513 units, down 13% on year. TVS Motor Co. Ltd. reported the strongest growth in production in this segment, manufacturing 13,975 three-wheelers, up over 51% from a year ago.  

 

Sales of quadricycles in India fell 84% to three units in April, while exports tumbled 68% to 210 units. Bajaj Auto Ltd. is the only company that makes this non-transport four-wheeler in India. In March, the company sold no quadricycles in India. The Pune-based automotive giant produced 211 quadricylces in April, 72% less than a year ago. 

 

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers detailed domestic vehicle sales figures for April as follows:

 

Segment	Apr-25	Mar-25	Apr-24	Year-on-year change (in %)
Passenger vehicles	303,648	329,742	287,746	5.5
Passenger cars	91,148	107,238	96,357	(-)5.4
Utility vehicles	201,062	212,095	179,329	12.1
Vans	11,438	10,409	12,060	(-)5.2
Two-wheelers	1,458,784	1,656,939	1,751,393	(-)16.7
Scooters	548,370	586,485	581,277	(-)5.7
Motorcycles	871,666	1,035,273	1,128,192	(-)22.7
Mopeds	38,748	35,181	41,924	(-)7.6
Three-wheelers	49,441	62,813	49,774	(-)0.7
Quadricycles	3	0	19	-

* Data does not include sales numbers of BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volvo Auto. Tata Motors domestic sales data is included only in ‘Total PV', detailed break-up is not available.

 

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers detailed domestic vehicle production figures for April as follows:

 

Segment	Apr-25	Mar-25	Apr-24	Year-on-year change (in %)
Passenger vehicles	389,202	423,005	351,290	10.8
Passenger cars	135,819	149,985	131,846	3.0
Utility vehicles	241,529	261,255	206,585	16.9
Vans	11,854	11,765	12,859	(-)7.8
Two-wheelers	1,852,866	1,966,574	1,932,986	(-)4.1
Scooters	648,633	622,520	594,694	9.1
Motorcycles	1,166,462	1,305,588	1,298,063	(-)10.1
Mopeds	37,771	38,466	40,229	(-)6.1
Three-wheelers	76,603	87,219	73,579	4.1
Quadricycles	211	117	756	(-)72.1

 

End

 

Reported by Anand JC

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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