Labour unrest hits Toyota sales in March

Car sales decline 56.6% Y-o-Y to 9,160 units in March

Hit by the on-going labour unrest and subsequent drop in production, the Toyota Kirloskar Motor's (TKM) car sales declined 56.6% to 9,160 units in the month of March 2014 compared to 21,143 units sold in the same month in 2013. The company exported 954 units of Etios series last month.

In the domestic market too, TKM's sales declined 57.8% to 8,206 units in March 2014 as compared to 19,452 units in March 2013.

N Raja, Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing said, "We started limited operations from March 18, 2014, with the help of our non-unionised team members, majority of whom are supervisors."

Meanwhile, the unionised workers at Toyota have continued to stay outside the factory and have refused to sign good conduct undertaking. "We have decided to hold dharna in front of the main gate at the factory on Wednesday to press for our demands. We are ready to resume work provided the management withdraws the suspension of 30 workers and relaxes the condition of signing an undertaking. They should also resume wage renewal talks with the Union," said R Satish, general secretary, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Employees Union (TKMEU).

The management representatives were unavailable for comments. The company has closed both the car plants at Bidadi for Ugadi festival holidays for two days from March 31 to April 1.