Vehicle dealers remain concerned about business

Car and commercial vehicle dealers remain concerned over the business environment in the first two quarters of the current fiscal even as the two-wheeler dealers see a ray of hope, according to a survey.
The passenger car automotive dealership confidence index (ADCI) stands at a negative 40 (on a scale of 100), representing a moderately pessimistic sentiment amongst dealers, the Melbourne-based Sewells Group said in its first ADCI survey.
The commercial vehicle ADCI stands at a negative 32, representing a moderately pessimistic sentiment amongst commercial vehicle dealers, but interestingly, a shade more optimistic than passenger car dealers, the survey said.

Auto sales fell for the first time in over a decade in the last fiscal.
The domestic car sales in FY14 fell to 17,86,899 units from 18,74,055 units in 2012-13, while on the positive side, two-wheeler exports from India grew 6.52 per cent to 20,83,938 units in 2013-14 from 19,56,378 units in 2012-13.
However, the two-wheeler ADCI stands at a positive 13, indicating that two-wheeler dealers are mildly optimistic with a 6-month horizon, release said.
"We are excited to launch our first survey for the domestic auto industry. Automotive dealers are close to the action on ground. They are in constant touch with customers, potential customers, original equipment makers' staff and competition dealers," Sewells Group India managing partner and chief executive Jayesh Jagasia said.

The findings are based on 215 dealer responses received from 116 locations, representing passenger cars, commercial vehicles and two-wheelers of 24 different brands.