Passenger vehicle exports have risen by 131 percent year on year in the April-July 2021 period. A total of 1,79,434 units were shipped overseas in the first four months of 2021, as compared to 77,802 units exported between April to July 2020.
This is not only a good indicator of demand for made-in-India passenger vehicles, but also marks the opening of global markets. The export mantra per se remains a winner: not only is it a high-margin revenue earner but it keeps the manufacturing plant buzzing even in stressful times in the domestic market. Here’s looking at the top performers in the fiscal year to date.
Maruti Suzuki: 66,059 units
At this stage in the fiscal, Maruti Suzuki India is in the lead with 66,059 units, recording 311 percent year-on-year growth and 23,971 units ahead of FY2021 and FY2020 export leader, Hyundai Motor India.
The premium Baleno hatchback with 16,175 units is the best-seller in the company’s export markets, followed by the S-Presso (9,986), Dzire (9,914), Swift (7,402) and Vitara Brezza (6,839). The export-only three-door Jimny, which is exported to Latin America, Middle East and African markets, is sixth in line with 4,790 units.
Hyundai Motor India: 42,088 units
Hyundai Motor India, who was the leading exporter in FY2020 and FY2021, is at second position in the PV export rankings.
The top three export models for the company are the popular new Creta SUV (10,833 units), Grand i10 (8,870) and the Verna sedan (6,765). And the company has just begun exporting the Alcazar SUV.
Volkswagen India: 16,455 units
The German carmaker is making strong gains on the export front. Sixth in the PV export chart in FY2021 (31,089 units), Volkswagen India at this stage has jumped three ranks up with total shipments of 16,455 units. What’s more, this tally is already 53 percent of FY2021 numbers. The company has exported 10,976 units of the Vento and 5,479 units of Polo.
Kia India: 15,641 units
Kia, is on a roll in India and recently drove past the 3,00,000 unit sales milestone in a scant 24 months, is in fourth place with 15,641 units, maintaining the rank it had in FY2021. The Seltos, its best-seller in India, is also its most exported model with 9,385 units, comprising 60 percent of total export sales in the year to date. This also mirrors its performance in India, where the Seltos accounts for 66 percent of total Kia sales in the country.
Ford India: 12,010
The American carmaker has slipped from third position in FY2021 to fifth place in the April-July 2021 period with total shipments of 12,010 units. The EcoSport, with 10,367 units, is the export topper for Ford. Interestingly, the EcoSport was the top export model in FY2021 with 39,897 units.
Nissan Motor India: 11,821 units
With 11,821 units exported, Nissan is one rank down from its fifth position in FY2021. The export-only Sunny sedan leads the number tally for the Japanese carmaker with 8,908 units, while the recently launched Magnite compact SUV follows with 2,016 units.
Top 10 export models
Here’s a table of the Top 10 export models totalling 1,02,816 units, accounting for 57 percent of total made-in-India PV shipments of 1,79,434 units, which indicates their importance to the India export story.
| Top 10 Export Models | |
| Model | Units |
| Maruti Suzuki Baleno | 16,175 |
| Volkswagen Vento | 10,976 |
| Hyundai Creta | 10,833 |
| Ford Ecosport | 10,367 |
| Maruti Suzuki S-Presso | 9,986 |
| Maruti Suzuki Dzire | 9,914 |
| Kia Seltos | 9,385 |
| Nissan Sunny | 8,908 |
| Hyundai Grand i10 | 8,870 |
| Maruti Suzuki Swift | 7,402 |
Maruti Suzuki has four models in this best-seller chart with the premium Baleno topping with 16,175 units. Interestingly, in terms of body style, demand from export markets seems democratised for SUVs, sedans and hatchbacks alike.
Global semiconductor shortage to impact exports?
With global markets having opened up, the 131 percent year-on-year growth in April-July 2021, albeit on a lower pandemic-impacted FY2020, augurs well for the future. Some carmakers have ramped up production to both ready themselves for the upcoming festive season as well as cater to the high-margin export market.
If there is a challenge looming for Indian automakers’ exports, then it is the global semiconductor crisis which has affected most carmakers, be it Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra or Tata Motors. Earlier this month, Maruti Suzuki said that production at its contract manufacturing plant in Gujarat will be partially impacted in August as a result of the semiconductor shortage.
At present, it looks to be a tough call for manufacturers. Depending on the state of semiconductor stocks automakers will be rejigging their production schedules to ensure the flow of high-in-demand models for the domestic market, readying dealer inventory for the upcoming festive season and, importantly, ensuring deliveries of high-margin export models.
Also See:
Top 5 best-selling SUVs, MPVs in July 2021