Toyota Kirloskar Motor Reports 21 Per Cent Decline In Sales At 11,544 Units In August

Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Sunday reported 21 per cent decline in total sales at 11,544 units in August. The company had sold 14,581 units in the same month last year, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) said in a statement.

Sales in the domestic market stood at 10,701 units as compared to 14,100 units in August 2018, down 24 per cent. However, exports during the month increased nearly two-fold to 843 units as against 481 in the year-ago month, TKM said.

Commenting on the sales performance, TKM Deputy Managing Director N Raja said, “The consumer sentiment continues to be muted in the month of August, with customers deferring their purchase of vehicles. Severe floods across states has also hurt the demand in the industry. Unfavorable exchange rate is not helping our cost.”

He, however, said the recent measures announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to boost the auto sector with cheaper car loans, improving liquidity through credit expansion to public sector banks, deferring of one-time registration fees, higher depreciation for all vehicles and lifting ban on purchase of new vehicles in government departments are likely to spur some demand which is a much needed relief.

“The latest FDI reforms which will boost local manufacturing, also comes as a positive move to propel growth in the industry in the long run. We hope that the festive cheer ushers in positive sentiments with better retail sales in the upcoming months,” Raja added.

Toyota recently decided to to continue to sell diesel models in the country even as prices of such vehicles are expected to go up significantly with the upcoming BS-VI emission norms from April 1 next year, a top company official has said.

The company has even invested in a plant in India to make diesel engines which is capable of manufacturing diesel BS-VI engines with minimum investment, he added. This was done keeping in mind the 'Make in India' philosophy, Viswanathan said.

With diesel cars set to become costlier from next year with the implementation of stricter BS-VI emission norms, major automakers are contemplating about the future of such vehicles in their portfolios.

(With inputs from PTI)