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Highlights
Passenger vehicle market growth (-1.5%) is hampered by semiconductor shortage
Tata Motors (4.4%) and Mahindra (2.5%) gained significant market share with new products onslaught
SUV/Crossover body style gained highest market share, ahead of hatchback category
Wagon-R continues to be the best-selling passenger vehicle in India
Industry
Q1 of 2022 happens to be the second best quarter in the history of passenger vehicle (PV) category. 1.5% drop in wholesale in comparison to 2021 (during the same period) is largely due to supply side constraint. Demand continues to sustain in early part of 2022, despite increase in car price due to input cost inflation, and higher fuel prices. Semiconductor shortage still is a major bottleneck for majority of manufacturers in PV segment and has deep impact on supply side of certain product line with healthy demand (Hyundai Creta, Mahindra XUV 700 etc).
Unlike PV segment, demand side story though is not so favorable in the case of 2-wheeler (2W) category. Sharp drop of 24% is recorded in Q1 of 2022, and 25% in Q4 of 2021. It seems fuel price increase has deeply impacted new 2W sales or is it some sort of signal for rural economic distress.
Manufacturer
Market leader Maruti witnessed drop in sales on account of Baleno generation transition and Alto sales drop
Creta sales drop due to semiconductor shortage has impacted Hyundai’s sales in Q1 2022
Addition of Punch and strong sales across the product line has helped Tata motors to deliver strong sales performance, resulting in 4.4% market share gain
Tata Motors have maintained its growth momentum despite semiconductor shortage grappling other players in the market
XUV 700 and Thar sales has improved Mahindra’s market share by 2.5%
Carens sales has contributed towards KIA’s market share stability
Maruti’s market share drop continues in absence of right SUV/Crossover portfolio
CNG as a fuel choice is still not able to compensate fully across the product range for the void created by the diesel engine discontinuation
On back of success of Indica and Indigo, Tata retained #2 carmaker tag between 2003 and 2007
Hyundai with product portfolio expansion took away the #2 tag in 2008 and ever since retained it
However, resurgent Tata motors is back on the path to become the #2 passenger carmaker in India
Hyundai right now have only two successful products in the form Creta and Venue, and other products are struggling for traction
Chances of Tata becoming #2 and retaining in the short term is now much strong
As a newcomer, KIA has strongly established itself in Indian PV market with the success of 3 locally produced products
Mahindra is fighting back to keep the 4th position intact with all new or revised product lineup
Body style
Finally - SUV/crossover body style captured higher market share of Indian passenger vehicle segment
SUV/crossover continues to be a major growth segment
Hatchback dominance is under threat, even in long term
Increase in Maruti Dzire sales and addition of Skoda Slavia has momentarily infused new lease of life in sedan segment share
MUV segment may continue to rise with KIA Carens successful run in the future