Passenger vehicle sales up 11% in Jan: Siam

GEARS UP FOR TEST DEBUT

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers or Siam said on Thursday that the wholesales of passenger vehicles from factorygates to dealerships in India in January rose for the sixth straight month, helped by robust demand for utility vehicles.

Domestic wholesales of passenger vehicles rose 11.14 per cent year-on-year to 2.77 lakh units last month, according to the Siam.

While car sales fell 1.16 per cent over the year earlier to 1.53 lakh units, utility vehicles jumped 37.26 per cent to 1.12 lakh units—also the sixth straight month of pick-up for the segment.

Total two-wheeler sales, too, rose 6.63 per cent at 14.29 lakh units for the sixth month in a row.

Motorcycle sales increased 5.1 per cent to 9.16 lakh units while scooter sales were also up 9.06 per cent at 4.54 lakh units.

Three-wheeler sales, however, declined by 56.76 per cent to 26,335 units as compared with 60,903 units in January last year.

Vehicle sales across categories rose by 4.97 per cent to 17.32 lakh units last month as against 16,50,812 units in the year ago period.

Siam releases sales data for commercial vehicles on a quarterly basis.

“Supply chain challenges, including rising price of steel, unavailability of semi-conductors, and higher container charges continue to be obstacles in smooth functioning of the industry,” Rajesh Menon, director general, Siam, said.

The pandemic has fuelled demand for personal mobility. But automakers, battling several quarters of slowing sales, have not been able to keep up with supply.

Axar Patel moved a step closer to making his Test debut as he resumed bowling in India nets on Thursday. A knee injury had ruled the left-arm spinner out of the opening Test against England.

Axar’s presence is expected to bolster the spin bowling department as Virat Kohli wasn’t pleased with the way left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and offie Washington Sundar leaked runs in the first Test that India lost by 227 runs.

Shahbaz and Washington failed to support India’s frontline bowlers by maintaining pressure. Shahbaz had a match-haul of four wickets, but conceded 233 runs with an economy rate of around four per over. Washington went wicketless in the first innings and bowled just one over in the second.

“As a bowling unit, we didn’t bowl well collectively. If you consider the fast bowlers and Ashwin, then yes, we bowled consistently and in good areas. But if Washi and Shahbaz had also bowled such economical spells, then you create more pressure, and you cut out 80-90 runs from the opposition,” Kohli had said.

While Axar is set to replace Shahbaz in the playing XI, Washington might retain his place for his batting ability. He has scored two half-centuries in the last four innings. His unbeaten 85 in the first innings helped India fight back against England.