Maruti's market share falls to 42.99 pc

Maruti's market share falls to 42.99 pc
EEB & AGENCIES

NEW DELHI, JULY 21: Moving in the reverse gear, Maruti Udyog Limited's share in the total passenger car market plunged below 50 per cent in June for the first time. The company managed just 42.99 per cent in the total market as against 60.53 in June 1999 and 77.08 per cent in the same month of the previous year, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

On the other hand, its closest rival Hyundai Motor India Limited clinched 16.62 per cent compared to 11.64 per cent. Another competitor Daewoo Motors India Limited also witnessed a growth as its share rose by 12.79 per cent against 6.49 per cent last year and 3.1 per cent during June 1998.

MUL sold 15,898 units in the total passenger market of 36,974 vehicles in June this year, which is less than the company's sale in the same month in the previous two years. The company sold 24,100 units in June 1999 and 20,914 cars in June 1998.

On the other hand, HMIL sold 6,146 units and Daewoo 4,702 cars. The share of MUL, HMIL and Daewoo in June previous year stood at 24,100, 4,634 and 2,584 units respectively in the total market of 39,813. MUL's share in the first quarter of this fiscal came down to 51.33 per cent against 68.87 per cent in Q1 last year and 83.80 per cent in 1998.

Hyundai managed to capture 14.69 per cent during the period against 9.80 per cent last year. Daewoo's share stood at 11.04 per cent compared to 4.51 per cent and 2.70 per cent during the April-June period in the previous two years respectively.

Maruti sold 73,447 units during Q1 this year against 89,131 cars during the corresponding period last year and 78,395 units during April-June 1998. HMIL sold 21,012 units during the first quarter of this fiscal compared to 12,684 cars of last year's corresponding period. Daewoo, on the other hand, sold 15,802 units this year and 5,839 and 2,529 cars during Q1 the previous two years.

During the first quarter of this fiscal, the auto industry registered a 11.03 per cent rise at 11,84,041 units against 10,66,369 vehicles. Medium and heavy commercial vehicles fell by 7.08 per cent at 18,137 units, scooters moved down by 12.43 per cent at 2,58,680 units during the April-June period.

However, passenger cars rose by 10.54 per cent at 1,43,066 vehicles during the quarter, the SIAM figures said. LCV grew by 11.79 per cent at 13,940 units, MUV rose by 9.20 per cent at 28,201 vehicles, motorcycles moved up by 31.22 per cent at 4,99,869 units. As many as 1,77,042 mopeds were sold, up 11.72 per cent and three-wheelers grew by 1.77 per cent at 45,106 units.

Production of vehicles rose by 4.60 per cent at 3,90,907 units during June against 3,73,699 vehicles during the same month of the last year. M&H commercial vehicles and two wheeler scooters registered a deceleration. Besides, production of three-wheelers also fell during this period. While M&H declined by 17.84 per cent at 6,591 units, passenger cars fell by 20.36 per cent at 29,520 and 76,871 scooters were produced, down 29.63 per cent. Three-wheelers slid by 2.21 per cent at 16,096 units.

LCV, on the other hand, rose by 14.3 per cent at 6,117 units, MUV grew by 7.10 per cent at 9,942 vehicles, motorcycles moved up by 36.80 per cent at 1,80,651 units in June. As many as 65,119 mopeds were produced, up 15.82 per cent, the figures revealed.