New Delhi:
Passenger car shipments from factories to dealers in India fell 8 percent in January, mainly due to a shortage of semiconductors, auto industry body SIAM said Friday.
Total passenger car wholesale sales fell to 2,54,287 units in January 2022, compared to 2,76,554 units in the same month last year.
Last month, passenger car shipments were 1.26,693 units, compared to 1.53,244 units in the same period a year ago. Similarly, van shipments dropped to 10,632 units in the reporting period, from 11,816 units in January 2021.
However, commercial vehicle sales rose to 1,16,962 units last month, compared to 1,11,494 units in January 2021.
Total two-wheeler shipments fell 21 percent to 11,28,293 units, from 14,29,928 units in the same period a year ago.
Similarly, tricycle wholesalers fell to 24,091 units last month, from 26,794 units in January 2021.
Total shipments dropped to 14,06,672 units last month, compared to 17,33,276 units in the same month last year.
“Sales fell again in January 2022 compared to January 2021, due to both Omicron-related concerns and semiconductor shortages. There is clearly a demand for two-wheelers due to lower rural entry-level sales,” Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) director General Rajesh Menon said.
On the other hand, the passenger car segment is unable to meet market demand due to supply-side challenges, he added.
“Tricycles are still being hit hard by lower sales,” Menon said.
Last month, the country’s largest automaker, Maruti Suzuki, shipped 1,28,924 units, compared to 1,39,002 units in January 2021.
Hyundai Motor India saw shipments drop to 44,022 units last month, from 52,005 units in January last year.