The profit, however, beat analysts estimates. Analysts at Prabhudas Lilladher, for instance, had pegged the profit at Rs 1,100 crore.
Net profit for the quarter declined by 39.4 per cent compared to the same period previous on account of lower sales volume, higher sales promotion expenses and higher depreciation expenses, partially offset by cost reduction efforts, higher fair value gains on invested surplus and reduction in corporate tax rate, the company said.
“The Company sold a total of 338,317 vehicles during the Quarter, lower by 30.2% compared to the same period previous year. Sales in the domestic market stood at 312,519 units, lower by 31.4%. Exports were at 25,798 units,” the company said in a statement.
The EBITDA came in at Rs 1,606.3 crore, down 53.2 per cent YoY. The margin slipped 580 bps to 9.5 per cent.
Lower capacity utilization, higher sales promotion expense, and higher depreciation expense affected the margin, the company's financial statement showed.