Car exports up 28%, bikes zoom 96% in April

Exports of passenger cars from India rose 27.88 per cent in April, while that of motorcycles zoomed by 95.71 per cent as the country's auto makers continued to cash in on the recovery in the global automotive market.

According to the Society of India Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), India exported 37,479 cars in April against 29,307 units in the corresponding month last year. Motorcycles exports during the month jumped by 95.71 per cent at 1,27,336 units, against 65,064 units in the same month last year.

During the month, the overall export of vehicles across all categories increased by 87.61 per cent at 2,01,543 units as against 1,07,424 units in the same month last year, SIAM said. As per the latest data issued by it, the overseas sales of the country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India jumped 89.55 per cent to 12,937 units in April, compared to 6,825 units in April last year.

The country's largest car exporter, Hyundai Motor India, reported an increase of 6.31 per cent in overseas sale during April at 23,519 units, against 22,124 units in the same month in the previous year.

Tata Motors' passenger car exports soared by 96.30 per cent at 424 units, against 216 units in the year-ago period. "With the cash for clinkers (incentives given on new car purchase in exchange for old ones) in Europe ending, one would have thought car exports would be down. But that has not happened," SIAM Director General Vishnu Mathur told reporters.

He said this was due to the recovery of demand in the automobile industry in global markets, after the 2008-09 downturn. Exports of total passenger vehicles, including utility cars, grew by 28.63 per cent in April at 37,893 units, against 29,459 units in the same month of 2009.

According to SIAM, exports of motorcycles from the country jumped by 95.71 per cent in April at 1,27,336 units, against 65,064 units in the same month of last year.

Bajaj Auto registered an over two-fold jump in its monthly exports at 88,101 units, compared to 43,217 units in the year-ago period. TVS Motor Co's overseas sales during the month jumped by 88.86 per cent to 16,992 units, against 8,997 units during the same month of 2009, SIAM said.

Total two-wheeler exports from India in April witnessed a 96.91 per cent jump at 96.91 per cent to 1,32,458 units from 67,267 units in the same month last year. In the commercial vehicles segment, the total exports during April jumped over two-fold to 3,888 units from 1,671 units in the same month last year, SIAM said.

The light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment also witnessed an over two-fold jump in overseas sales during the month at 2,451 units, against 952 units during the corresponding month of 2009. Meanwhile, the medium and heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) segment's exports grew by 99.86 per cent during the month to 1,437 units, from 719 units in the year-ago period, it added.

Three-wheeler exports from the country saw an over three-fold jump in April to 27,304 units, against 9,027 units in the same month last year, SIAM said.