BusinessLine (Hyderabad)

Hyundai to boost rural sales with ‘Grameen Mahotsav’ initiative

- Meenakshi Verma Ambwani

Hyundai Motor India Ltd aims to enhance sales in rural markets through its ‘Grameen Mahotsav’ initiative, capitalisi­ng on the robust sales momentum it has witnessed in these areas in recent months.

The share of rural markets in the company’s total sales has seen a surge and now rural accounts for one-fifth of its total volumes.

“We sold 1.15 lakh vehicles in rural India last year, a growth of 11 per cent over 2022-23. We are confident that with good monsoon, increasing income levels and improved infrastruc­ture, the contributi­on from rural markets will further increase, said Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd.

BHARAT PUSH

The ‘Grameen Mahotsav’ rural outreach programme aims to deepen Hyundai’s ties with rural markets through specially designed events at 16 locations across the country. The initiative will engage dealers, rural influencer­s, financiers, customers and their families to build a strong network, enhancing brand recall and driving sales in rural markets.

Hyundai has planned a range of engaging activities under the ‘Grameen Mahotsav’ programme, including attractive product displays, interactiv­e demonstrat­ions and customer experience programmes. The two-day event will feature a vibrant marketplac­e with artisanal crafts, carnival rides, gaming zones and food stalls.

Retailers in the country have begun witnessing signs of recovery and on an average saw a growth of about 8 per cent at a pan-India level in March over the same month last year, per the latest survey findings of Retailers Associatio­n of India (RAI). This growth was led by sports goods, beauty and wellness and apparel segments.

The industry body said it expects to see consumptio­n witness a boost with the Lok Sabha elections. It also noted that retail chains have resumed expansion signalling optimism among the industry.

Kumar Rajagopala­n, CEO, Retailers Associatio­n of India (RAI), said, “In March 2024, our review of the retail sector revealed signs of a recovery in growth. The consumptio­n landscape appears robust, driven by increased discretion­ary spending on apparels and sporting goods. However, the jewellery sector, despite its significan­t growth since last Diwali, has experience­d a slight slowdown this past month, likely due to the recent surge in gold prices.”

“In the lead-up to the 2024 general elections, we are optimistic about the retail sector’s growth prospects. Historical­ly, election years catalyse economic activities, enhancing consumer spending across regions and categories. This year, we anticipate a similar trend, with substantia­l increases in discretion­ary spending, particular­ly in sectors such as FMCG and consumer durables,” he added.

RAPID GROWTH

Sports goods reported a growth of 11 per cent followed by apparel and beauty segments, which witnessed a growth of 10 per cent, while QSR, footwear, food and grocery segments saw 9 per cent growth. Jewellery grew by 6 per cent, while consumer durables and electronic­s saw a 4 per cent decline in March 2024 over March 2023, per RAI survey report.

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