Last updated: 03 Dec, 2021 | 01:03 pm
It’s the start of the new month and the auto industry is ready with their November sales numbers. Let’s find out which company fared well in its segment.
Passenger Vehicle Sales:
PV segment: The PV industry sales in Nov-21 came in at more than 2.8 lakh, remaining flat on MoM basis. Despite the chip shortages and supply constraints in the last few months, the demand for PV remains intact. Going forward analysts expect a gradual recovery in the segment.
Maruti Suzuki:
Sales volume in Nov’21 was supported by strong demand momentum. The company mentioned that chip shortages had a minor impact on production levels in Nov’21. Chip shortage is expected to affect production in Dec’21 as well (company has guided for 80-85% of normalized production levels). The company sees scope for regaining lost volume during the leaner months post festivals, led by strong demand and improving supply chain dynamics.
Mahindra:
The company witnessed decent demand trends, led by new product launches and strong response to existing models. Supply of semiconductors continues to be an issue and the company is working towards addressing it on a priority basis. The company expects improving reservoir levels and sustained sowing activities to support volumes going ahead.
Tata Motors:
PV sales moderated on a MoM basis. However, inherent demand drivers remain intact. The company sold 29,778 vehicles in November as against 21,641 units in the same month last year; thus recording a YOY sales growth of 37.6%. The company’s EV sales increased by whooping 324%, as Tata delivered 1,751 EVs last month as against 413 units in the same period last year.
Commercial Vehicle Sales:
CVs: Sales across most OEMs were somewhat disappointing due to relatively muted growth. However, underlying demand drivers are in place and should lead to volume uptick in the coming months. Analysts see elevated fuel prices and a relatively cautious stance of the financiers acting as headwinds in the near term. In domestic CVs, AL/Tata Motors/VECV witnessed MoM moderation in volumes and came slightly below broader expectations.
Tata Motors:
CV demand recovery continued on a YoY basis, led by improving fleet utilization, higher number of road construction projects and improving cement consumption. Tata Motors has received a positive sales growth of 38% in the month of November 2021.
Ashok Leyland:
Overall MHCV volume posted growth on a YoY basis on the back of demand from infrastructure & construction sectors. Analysts see the demand momentum sustaining post normalization of economic activities and due to a relatively moderate stance of financiers.
2 Wheeler Sales:
2Ws: The 2W industry sales in Nov-21 came in at around 13 lakh down by 27% MoM. The weak demand in Rural and Urban India, subdued festive sales and higher fuel prices dented the performance. The recovery is expected only in FY23. Bajaj Auto and TVS reported volumes that were below broader expectations due to muted demand in the domestic market. Overall volumes were however supported by sustained export momentum. Royal Enfield volume came in at 52k units; in-line with broader expectations.
Hero MotoCorp:
Hero MotoCorp reported volume of 3.49 lakh units, significantly below expectations. The company remains optimistic about demand in the coming months, led by upcoming marriage season and positive rural sentiments.
TVS Motors:
Strong export momentum continued to support overall volume while demand in the domestic market was relatively muted. Lifting of overall restrictions and the upcoming new launches are expected to improve retails, in our view.
Tractor sales:
Tractors: The Tractor industry sales in Nov-21 came in at 34.8k, down by 43% MoM. The volume decline was on account of the cyclical nature of business and higher base. M&M and Escorts reported weaker-than-expected numbers due to a high base, delayed Kharif harvest and uneven rural cash-flows. Analysts expect single digit volume growth for the segment in FY22.
Escorts:
Escorts reported muted sales volume for the month of November 2021, broadly on expected lines in the seasonally weak month. Total tractor sales volume stood at 7,116 units down 30% YoY. On the construction equipment space, the decline stood at 32.5% MoM to 312 units.
3 Wheeler sales:
Domestic 3W sales of Bajaj Auto, M&M, TVS and Atul Auto were slightly below broader expectations due to relatively subdued demand in the domestic market.
INDmoney analysis:
- Auto wholesale report for the month of November 2021 came in muted registering decline on MoM basis. Decline was limited in the PV space amidst healthy demand prospects and improving chip availability while the decline was aggravated in the 2-W space amidst muted festive sales and high channel inventory. CV space too witnessed a breather from MoM growth trend with most players reporting single digit decline on MoM basis.
- In PVs, analysts see demand momentum sustaining, led by easing supply-chain constraints, new launches, increased preference for personal mobility and improving consumer sentiments. They see scope for regaining lost volume (due to relatively weak festivals) during the leaner months post festivals, led by sustained demand and improving supply chain dynamics.
- In 2Ws, volumes were below expectations due to subdued demand trends in the domestic market (the premium end was also affected due to chip shortages). However, analysts see improving underlying rural sentiments supporting volumes, though at a gradual pace. Analysts also observe that initial trends suggest a relatively muted start to the marriage season, which should further affect dispatches post relatively weak festival sales. They see 2W OEMs with higher export exposure performing relatively better, led by sustained export momentum and margin support.
- In Tractors, sales were affected due to a high base and delayed Kharif harvest (uneven and late monsoon). However, analysts see rural sentiments being reasonably strong and expect high reservoir levels, current Rabi crop preparations and reasonable monsoon to support industry volumes.
- In CVs, volumes were a tad disappointing due to lower freight availability and only a gradual pick-up in demand. Elevated fuel costs and relatively cautious stance by financiers also affected volume recovery. However, reports suggest strong demand from infrastructure & construction sectors along with improving freight utilization levels supporting CV volumes. Analysts expect a sustained uptick in CV volumes in the coming quarters as economic activities gain pace and financing issues/cash-flow constraints are sorted out.