Passenger vehicle sales in July up 45 pc, signals economic recovery

As per data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), two-wheeler sales comprising motorcycles, moped, scooters and scooterette declined 2 per cent during this period.

The total dispatches from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to dealers of two-wheelers were 12,53,937 in July compared to 12,81,354 in the same month of FY2020, while the sales of three-wheelers jumped in percentage terms due to a favourable base last year but the segment could clock the total sales of just 17,888 in July.

SIAM Director General Rajesh Menon said sales for the period of April to July 2021 for the passenger vehicle segment are adequately lower than the level of 2016-17; the two-wheeler segment sales are still lower than the level of 2010-11, and the three-wheeler segment has been pushed back by many years.

Menon said that the Indian automobile industry continues to face heavy headwinds in the form of global semiconductor shortages and steep rises in commodity prices.

"On one hand, the Industry is managing such supply chain challenges while ensuring the safety of its people, and on the other hand Industry is also keeping a close eye on the onset of a 3rd wave in India and across the world," he added.

The monthly auto sales number is one of the closely-watched high-frequency data by public policy experts and industry captains to gauge the performance of the economy; the rise in domestic sales numbers suggests that the economy is getting back on track after being hit hard by the pandemic.