The year 2007-08 has been a very tough year for Indian auto industry. Except for the passenger car segment, all the other segments have either shown marginal or negative growth. The rise in interest rates and non availability of finance has affected the two and three wheeler segment. Medium and Heavy commercial vehicles also dropped in over all sales. The year was one the industry will want to forget forever.
Domestic Sales
The cumulative growth of the Passenger Vehicles segment during April – March 2008 was 12.17 percent. Passenger Cars grew by 11.79 percent, Utility Vehicles by 10.57 percent and Multi Purpose Vehicles by 21.39 percent in this period.
The Commercial Vehicles segment grew marginally at 4.07 percent. While Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles declined by 1.66 percent, Light Commercial Vehicles recorded a growth of 12.29 percent.
Three Wheelers sales fell by 9.71 percent with sales of Goods Carriers declining drastically by 20.49 percent and Passenger Carriers declined by 2.13 percent during April- March 2008 compared to the last year.
Two Wheelers registered a negative growth rate of 7.92 percent during this period, with motorcycles and electric two wheelers segments declining by 11.90 percent and 44.93 percent respectively. However, Scooters and Mopeds segment grew by 11.64 percent and 16.63 percent respectively.
Exports
Automobile Exports registered a growth of 22.30 percent during the current financial year.
The growth was led by two wheelers segment which grew at 32.31 percent. Commercial vehicles and Passenger Vehicles exports grew by 19.10 percent and 9.37 percent respectively. Exports of Three Wheelers segment declined by 1.85 percent.
