Auto sales rise in February; Mahindra & Mahindra shows decline

Vehicle sales picked up in February, with Mahindra & Mahindra being the lone aberration in the figures released by the companies on Monday. Most of the automobile manufacturers, including Maruti Suzuki, Toyota Kirloskar, MG Motor and Bajaj, showed an uptick in sales figures in February. 

MG Motor India said it recorded its best-ever retail sales in February.

Here's was the sales figures of major automobiles looked like on Monday:

Maruti Suzuki 

The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) reported a 11.8 per cent increase in wholesales to 1,64,469 units in February. The company had sold 1,47,110 units in February last year.

Domestic sales increased 11.8 per cent to 1,52,983 units last month, as against 1,36,849 units in February 2020.

Sales of mini cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, declined by 12.9 per cent to 23,959 units, as compared to 27,499 in the same month last year.

Sales of compact segment vehicles, including models Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire, increased by 15.3 per cent to 80,517 units, as against 69,828 cars in February last year.

Sales of mid-sized sedan Ciaz, however, declined by 40.6 per cent to 1,510 units, as compared to 2,544 units in February 2020.

Utility vehicle sales, including Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga, rose 18.9 per cent to 26,884 units, as compared to 22,604 units in the year-ago month.

Exports in February were up 11.9 per cent at 11,486 units, as against 10,261 units in the corresponding month last year, the company said. 

Bajaj

Bajaj Auto on Monday reported 6 per cent rise in total sales at 3,75,017 units in February, as against 3,54,913 units in the same month last year.

Total domestic sales declined by 2 per cent to 1,64,811 units last month, as compared to 1,68,747 units sold in February 2020. Bajaj Auto's total two-wheeler sales were up 7 per cent to 3,32,563 units, as compared to 3,10,222 units in the year-ago month.

Overall commercial vehicles sales declined by 5 per cent at 42,454 units last month, as compared to 44,691 units in the year-ago period.

Bajaj Auto said its total exports last month rose 13 per cent to 2,10,206 units, as compared to 1,86,166 units in February 2020.

MG Motor

MG Motor India, which recorded its best-ever retail sales in February, sold 4,329 units during the month. The company's sales rose over three-fold last month to 4,329 units, as compared to 1,376 units in the same month a year ago.

During the month, the automaker clocked the highest-ever production, bookings, and sales figures as it received a robust response for all its product lines including ZS EV, Hector, and Gloster, MG Motor said in a statement.

The ZS EV received more than 350 orders during the month which more than double its sales figure in January, it added.

"The growth momentum is expected to continue in March, and we are working at the back-end to try and reduce the waiting period for our customers," MG Motor India Director—Sales Rakesh Sidana said. 

Ashok Leyland

Hinduja group flagship firm Ashok Leyland reported an increase of 19 per cent in total vehicle sales at 13,703 units in February. The company had sold 11,475 units in the corresponding month a year ago.

Total domestic vehicle sales stood at 12,776 units in February, as against 10,612 units in the year-ago period, registering an increase of 20 per cent.

Medium and heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCV) sales in the domestic market were up 5 per cent at 7,114 units last month, as compared to 6,745 units in the year-ago month, it added.

Light commercial vehicle sales in the domestic market last month stood at 5,662 units, as compared to 3,867 units in February 2020, up 46 per cent, the company said. 

Toyota Kirloskar 

Toyota Kirloskar Motor announced it sold a total of 14,075 units in February 2021, clocking a 36 per cent growth in domestic sales.

Bengaluru-headquartered TKM sold 10,352 units in the domestic market in February 2020, and 11,126 units in January 2021.

Senior Vice President at TKM, Naveen Soni said "new launches like the new 'Fortuner' and 'Legender' introduced in January and the new 'Innova Crysta' launched in November 2020, have received a phenomenal response".

Hyundai

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Monday reported a 26.4 per cent increase in total sales at 61,800 units in February. The company had sold 48,910 units in the same month last year.

Domestic sales were up 29 per cent to 51,600 units as against 40,010 units in February 2020.

Exports increased by 14.6 per cent to 10, 200 units in February as compared with 8,900 units in the same month of 2020.

"The company has been consistently striving to drive a resurgence in sales, thereby contributing towards economic recovery and bringing the industry closer to pre-Covid level sales. With a cumulative sales of 61 800 units in February 2021, Hyundai has recorded growth across segments," HMIL Director (Sales, Marketing & Service) Tarun Garg said.

Both domestic and export demand have recorded healthy double digit growth last month, reflecting an all-round improvement in buyer sentiment, he added.

Nissan Motor

Nissan Motor India reported an over four-fold rise in wholesales at 4,244 units in February over the same month last year, on the back of newly launched compact SUV Magnite and other existing vehicle models.

Nissan Motor India's wholesales in February 2020 were1,029 units,according to the company.

The Japanese carmaker also said that it has delivered 6,582 units of Magnite since itslaunchin December last year,besidesthevehiclecrossing over 40,000 bookings.

"Nissan Magnite has had an overwhelming customer response with 6,582 deliveries to the customers in its first two full months of launch," said Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India.

The in-flow of bookings is continuous of the customers seeking a game changer product in the highly competitive SUV segment, he said.

The plant is operating at full capacity with three shifts with the support of supply chain partners to shorten the waiting period of the Magnite, Srivastava added. 

Mahindra & Mahindra 

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) reported an 11.38 per cent decline in total sales at 28,777 units in February. The company had sold 32,476 units in February 2020.

Passenger vehicles sales increased by 41 per cent to 15,391 units last month, as compared with 10,938 units in the year-ago period.

In the commercial vehicles segment, the company sold 11,559 vehicles in the domestic market last month, as against 19,699 units in February 2020, a drop of 70.42 per cent.

Exports declined by 1 per cent to 1,827 units last month, as against 1,839 units in the year-ago month.

"Demand continues to remain buoyant for our range of SUVs and Pick-ups and we have a robust order pipeline. However, supply of semiconductors, as we all know, is a global issue and it is likely to continue for another 3 to 4 months," M&M Chief Executive Officer Automotive Division Veejay Nakra said.

Going forward, the company will continue to monitor the situation and closely work with its suppliers to minimise this supply risk. 

TVS Motors

TVS Motor Company reported an increase of 18 per cent in total sales in February at 2,97,747 units. The company, which primarily makes two-wheelers and three-wheelers, had sold 2,53,261 units in February 2020.

Total two-wheeler sales during the month under review stood at 2,84,581units, as against 2,35,891 units in February 2020, up 21 per cent.

Domestic two-wheeler sales stood at 1,95,145 units last month, as compared to 1,69,684 units in February 2020, up 15 per cent.

Total exports increased 23 per cent to 1,01,789 units last month, as compared to 82,877 units in February last year.

Tata Motors

Tata Motors on Monday reported a 51.07 per cent increase in total sales at 61,365 units in February. The company had sold a total of 40,619 units in the same month last year.

Total domestic sales were up 54 per cent at 58,473 units, as compared to 38,002 units in February last year, it added.

Passenger vehicle sales in the domestic market during the month under review, surged over two-fold to 27,225 units, as against 12,430 units in the same month last year.

The auto major reported a 21 per cent increase in total commercial vehicle sales at 33,966 units, as against 28,071 units in the year-ago period. 

Volvo and Eicher JV

VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a Volvo Group and Eicher Motors joint venture, on Monday reported a 19 per cent increase in sales for February at 5,457 units.

The company had sold 4,586 units in February 2019, VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV). Eicher branded trucks and buses recorded total sales of 5,335 units last month as compared to 4,439 units in the year-ago month, up 20.2 per cent.

In the domestic market, sales of Eicher branded trucks and buses were at 4,825 units last month as against 24.5 units the same month a year ago, up 3,875 per cent.

Exports of the Eicher brand of commercial vehicles were at 510 units in February as compared to 564 units in the same month last, a dip of 9.6 per cent.

Further, Volvo trucks posted sales of 122 units last month as compared to 147 units in February 2020. 

Escorts

Farm equipment manufacturer Escorts Agri Machinery reported a 30.6 per cent increase in tractor sales at 11,230 units in February. The company had sold 8,601 units in February 2020.

Domestic tractor sales during last month stood at 10,690 units as against 8,049 units in February 2020, up 32.8 per cent.

Escorts Agri Machinery said the tractor demand is expected to continue to be strong on back of positive macroeconomic factors and strong rural cash flows. The supply-side situation is normal, but rising inflation continues to be a worry.

Exports last month were at 540 units compared to 552 units in February last year.