The major home-grown auto makers Tata Motors export sales have grown by three percent though they are down in their domestic sales. Hyundai, the largest car exporters saw an annual export of 1, 44,442 vehicles, that contributes about 40 per cent of the total sales of Hyundai Motors India. According to H.S. Lheem, Managing Director, Hyundai Motors India Ltd. "It is the expansion and the new launches have propelled their exports in the recent months. Small cars are of great demand in overseas markets. The cost-effectiveness in terms of labour, infrastructure and component sourcing make export from India profitable," he also added that they have set an export target of 2.12 lakh for 2008 and of which they have already has already got 60,000 orders from abroad for its latest model, for delivery till May. The company also hopes to increase the number of countries to which it exports cars from 73 to 90 this year.
Maruti Suzuki which exported 53,024 units during 2007-08, which was the record in company's history. Their exports grew by 34.9% during the year. The comp-any is focusing on developing countries and have identified newer markets, the economic condition of which is similar to that of India a decade ago.
Maruti Suzuki tied up with the Adani Group for a mega car terminal at Mundra Port which will start its operation by year-end.
Though the total export figure is just a little more than 12,000 for SUV maker Mahindra, it translates into a 54 per cent increase in its overseas sales. The Scorpio forms three-fourths of the company's total exports.
Maruti Suzuki, the country's largest car maker, sold 764,842 vehicles - 711,818 units in the domestic market and 53,024 units abroad - in 2007-08. The company also strengthened their leadership in the A2 segment with its Alto, WagonR, Zen, Swift models and also attained leadership in the A3 segment with SX4, DZire, Esteem, and Baleno for 2007-08. Alto, the model currently popular among the Indian middle-class, strengthened its position as the country's top selling car, clocking volumes of 227,173 units during the year. Alto sales crossed the 200,000 mark for the e second consecutive year. Though all other models of Maruti saw a hike in their sales, Maruti 800 was down in it sales. The newly launched Dzire sold 5,658 units within just six days.
Some of the recent launches from the Maruti Suzuki are SX4 (May 2007), Grand Vitara (July 2007) and now Dzire, making it seven new models in three years. The concept A-Star model, created by an in-house team of designers from Maruti and Suzuki Motor Corporation was displayed at the World Auto Expo in New Delhi earlier this yea will be out this year end.
Another leading carmaker Hyundai Motor India Ltd has also logged 16.1 percent growth in sales for the fiscal 2008 selling 360,937 cars - 216,495 units in the domestic market and 144,442 units in exports - against 310,786 cars including 115,525 in exports in the previous fiscal. The recently launched i10 did very well in its sales and is on its way to becoming a very popular car winning many hearts.
The next in the row is General Motors India Pvt Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of the American carmaker, which closed the fiscal 2008 selling 66,543 units, up from 38,857 units sold in the previous year and partially the credit goes to small car Chevrolet Spark.
