US car Cos. get mixed sales numbers in July.
By R. Chandrasekaran
CHENNAI: There was mixed fortune for the United States-based car companies in India, in July, with the second largest auto maker in the world General Motors reporting a fall in sales, whereas Ford delivered a strong growth.
The fall in auto sales were expected since the Reserve Bank of India announced various measures that were meant to tighten the money policy, thereby sucking the liquidity from the market. However, it was a pleasant surprise that Ford India recorded a significant sales growth of 48.23 percent in July to 12,338 units driven by sports utility vehicle (SUV) EcoSport, which was launched only recently.
Ford did well in both domestic as well as export orders. While the domestic sales advanced 26.15 percent to 7,867 units from 6,236 units last year, exports more than doubled to 4,471 vehicles from 2,087 vehicles in the same month previous year. The newly launched EcoSport recorded 30,000 booking during the initial 17 days since the launch of the vehicle on June 27.
Obviously, Ford is delighted when its executive director for marketing, sales and service Vinay Piparsani commented, “With Chennai strongly positioned as a regional export hub for Ford, we are excited to register the highest-ever exports too and are hopeful that the Chennai-built vehicles will satisfy customers in international markets.”
General Motors, which was in the news for the Tavera recall issue, reported a 10.73 percent drop in sales to 6,503 vehicles from 7,285 units in the same month last year. Though the company said that stopping of Tavera and diesel versions of Sail HB and NB has impacted its sale in July, the company also blamed higher fuel costs and interest rates besides other structural obstacles and macroeconomic conditions for the downtrend in July.
Though GM too launched a SUV recently – Enjoy – the company has not highlighted the response from the customers but said that it could sell 2,235 units in July. The company admitted that except Chevrolet Enjoy and Beat, other models sales were not on the projected lines.
To contact the author, email to rchandrasekaran@americanbazaaronline.com