Tata Motors Dec quarter net profit slides 96.22 per cent amid losses in domestic operations

Homegrown auto major Tata Motors on Tuesday reported 96.22 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 111.57 crore for the December quarter, dragged down by losses in domestic operations and lower profit of its British arm JLR.

On a standalone basis, Tata Motors' loss after tax widened to Rs 1,046 crore in the third quarter of 2016-17, from Rs 137 crore a year ago.

The revenues (net of excise) of the standalone business (including joint operations) for the quarter under review stood at Rs 10,167 crore, as compared to Rs 10,019 crore in the third quarter of 2015-16, up 1.47 per cent.

Tata Motors said its British arm Jaguar Land Rover posted revenue of 6,537 million pounds, compared to 5,781 million pounds -- up 13.1 per cent.

JLR had profit after tax (PAT) of 167 million pounds for the third quarter compared to 440 million pounds in the corresponding quarter last fiscal, down 62 per cent.     

It had lower wholesale volumes and less favourable product mix but was partially offset by favourable market mix, including the runout of Discovery, the company said.

There were also unfavourable variable marketing expense and higher new model launch costs and biennial pay negotiation settlement. Favourable operating exchange was also offset by realised hedges, the company added.

JLR's total retail sales, including the China JV, were at 1,49,288 units, up 8.5 per cent.

Tata Motors said during the third quarter 2016-17, its commercial vehicles segment witnessed demand shrinkage due to the demonetisation.
Medium and heavy commercial vehicle segment witnessed major pressure with a fall of 9 per cent and LCV segment was overall flat.

Passenger vehicles segment grew by 25.4 per cent with car segment rising by 31.1 per cent on the back of continued strong response to the Tiago, it added. Tata Motors stock ended at Rs 468.30 apiece, down 7.34 per cent, on BSE.