Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and others see sales plunge by 80% in May with exports taking a massive hit during the lockdown

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Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and others see sales plunge by 80% in May with exports taking a massive hit during the lockdown
(L-R) Vikas Jain, National Sales Head, Hyundai Motor India Limited, SS Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., Albert Biermann, President, Head of R&D Division, Hyundai Motor Company and SY Lee, Senior Vice President, Head of Hyundai Global Design Centre, Hyundai Motor Company at the launch of the fully connected SUV, Hyundai VENUE Photo : Ajay Kumar GautamBCCL
  • The Indian automobile sector reported a sharp decline in monthly sales for May 2020.
  • Companies continue to struggle under the partial resumption of plants and lower production.
  • Automobile sales in India have taken a massive hit since March 23 — when the government announced a nationwide lockdown to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The sales of India’s COVID-19-battered automobile companies in May remained at historic low levels as factories came back to life and dealerships opened up — but customers continued to stay away.

Automobile sales in India were already on a downtrend in India for over a year. It has only gotten worse since March 25⁠ when the government announced a nationwide lockdown to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both production and sales came to a grinding halt and makers could not sell a single unit in April — despite running offers and schemes to try and boost sales. Some factories restarted in May, but the monthly auto sales data is far from encouraging.

“While most auto manufacturers have received permission and have opened their plants, the entire production ecosystem is yet to fall in place due to supply-side constraints, permission to operate with the limited workforce at plants and limited support from dealers and financiers,” said a report from Nirmal Bang, a broking firm.

It expects the pressure to continue as commercial vehicles is one of the worst-affected segments due to “excess capacity and limited drive availability.”

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Maruti Suzuki IndiaMay 2020 salesMay 2019 salesDrop in sales %
Domestic sales13865 125552 89%
Exports4651 908949%
Total sales18539 13464186%
EscortsMay 2020 salesMay 2019 salesDrop in sales %
Domestic sales645464880.50%
Exports14033958.70%
Total sales659468273.40%
Hyundai Motor IndiaMay 2020 salesMay 2019 salesDrop in sales %
Domestic sales6,88342,50284%
Exports5,70016,60065.60%
Total12,58359,10278.70%
Mahindra & MahindraMay 2020 salesMay 2019 salesDrop in sales %
Domestic sales9,07643,05679%
Exports4842,36580.00%
Total9,56045,42179.00%
TVS Motor CompanyMay 2020 salesMay 2019 salesDrop in sales %
Two-wheeler56,218294,32683.00%
Three-wheeler2,68812,78079.00%
Total58,906307,10681.00%
Royal Enfield (RE)May 2020 salesMay 2019 salesDrop in sales %
Total19,11362,37169%

SEE ALSO: May monthly auto sales data is unlikely to fire up the spirits

HUL CEO says the product inventory range will be smaller and simpler hereon⁠— analysts believe others may have the same plan
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