Auto exports near Rs 1000 cr

Maruti Udyog, Hyundai Motor India and Tata Motors led the charge of Indian auto makers in the global markets with each company, for the firs...

Maruti Udyog, Hyundai Motor India and Tata Motors led the charge of Indian auto makers in the global markets with each company, for the first time, recording export revenues of around Rs 1,000 crore in the year ended March. The year 2003-04 has been the best for the industry with total sales (including exports) crossing the one-million milestone.

Maruti Udyog’s managing director Jagdish Khattar declined to comment on the export figure, but sources confirmed that it was around Rs 1,000 crore as vehicle sales rose 60 per cent to 51,175 units. During 2002-03, its export revenues were at Rs 670 crore. The sharp export growth is attributed primarily due to the success of Alto in the European market, where it sold 34,399 units. Maruti recorded a substantial growth in Algeria, Belgium, Bhutan, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Nepal, Sri Lanka and UK markets. For the first time, its cars entered the Gulf market (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar) with New Alto specially designed for the region.

The country’s second largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor India’s president BVR Subbu confirmed that the company’s exports crossed the Rs 1,000 crore mark during 2003-04, which is under 18 per cent of its total turnover. “We are looking at doubling exports to over 70,000 units this year,” added Subbu.

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Its compact car Santro is marketed as Atos in overseas markets including Europe, Mexico, Algeria, Columbia and some regions in Africa.

Tata Motors’ Indica model, sold as City Rover in Europe, was the driving force behind the company’s export growth. Its commercial vehicles were exported to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and South Africa. The company is targetting 20 per cent of its total revenues from exports to 11 major markets for particularly commercial vehicles. The company reported a 43 pc rise in sales during fiscal 2003-04 at 3,14,256 units, including exports.

In the two-wheeler segment, Bajaj Auto registered export revenue of around Rs 550 crore during the year. The company’s exports of motorcycles, three-wheelers and scooters are mainly to the Saarc region, South America, Africa and Gulf countries. It added Iran on its export map last year.

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