Tata has gone past Hyundai to become the second-largest passenger car seller in Indian domestic market, behind Maruti Suzuki. Tata posted its highest-ever monthly sales in December 2021, while its total shipments in October-December 2021 were its best quarterly sales since its inception.
The Indian homegrown automaker sold 35,461 units of passenger vehicles to its dealers in December 2021, against 32,312 units dispatched by Hyundai. While Tata shipment in the domestic market was up 50.5% year-on-year (YoY), from 23,564 units in December 2020, Hyundai’s sales in the domestic market were down 31.8% YoY, from 47,400 units a year ago.
However, Hyundai remains the second bestselling carmaker on a year-to-date basis as it shipped a total of 500,000 units of passenger cars in 2021, against 332,000 units shipped by Tata during the period.
This is first time since its entry into the passenger vehicle market in late 1990s that Tata has become the second-largest seller in the country, behind industry leader Maruti Suzuki, on the basis of monthly sales. The company was the third-biggest carmaker for nearly a decade in late 1990s and early 2000s, behind Maruti and Hyundai before it ceded market share to rivals after the commercial failure of its micro car – the Nano.
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The recent surge in Tata Motors’ sales volume is attributed to good customer response of its new launches in the fast-growing SUV segment. According to analysts, nearly a quarter of Tata passenger vehicle sales in December 2021 came from its two recent launches — the Punch and the Safari. The company also gained from a further rise in the popularity of its bestselling SUV- the Nexon — and strong sales of its electric vehicle. Sales of Tata EVs touched 10,000 units in the first 9 months of the ongoing fiscal. Last month, Tata crossed 2,000 monthly EV sales landmark for the first time with 2,255 units sold.
Commenting on this, Shailesh Chandra, President of the Passenger Vehicles Business Unit of Tata Motors, said:
“Tata Motors passenger vehicle business growth journey continued and set several new milestones during the quarter despite witnessing a shortfall in production due to the ongoing semi-conductor crisis.”
The company notes that the impact of the newer variant of COVID-19 is to be observed carefully, along with the semiconductor shortage. However, Tata is cautiously optimistic about its fortunes in 2022.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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