The Hindu Business Line : Cars give a lift to auto exports

A RESOUNDING growth in car exports, thanks to the robust performance by Ford India Ltd, helped automobile dispatches from India register about 9.5 per cent growth in 2001-02, latest industry data shows.

Export of cars, which account for more than a quarter of all exports from the country, were counted at 50,108 units in fiscal 2001-02, up a whopping 117.96 per cent from 22,990 cars exported in the year before.

Ford India Ltd, a subsidiary of the world's second largest auto maker Ford Motor Co, accounted for a little over 60 per cent of all car exports from the country.

The company exported 30,392 Ikon cars in 2001-02, data provided by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers shows.

Since Ford did not export a single car in 2000-01, the growth rates for the year have been skewed.

Incidentally, Ford's export sales were more than double its domestic sales of 15,131 cars.

All other segments of the automobile industry had to suffer a dip in their export figures, the data showed.

Export of commercial vehicles fell a steep 17 per cent to 11,426 units while utility vehicle exports fell about 14 per cent to 3,548 units.

Tata Engineering, the country's largest truck maker, exported 7,185 commercial vehicles, accounting for about 63 per cent of all commercial vehicles exported from the country. In 2000-01, the company had exported a tad over 10,000 commercial vehicles.

Like in the local market, the fortunes of the company's `Indica' car brightened in the international market too with exports of 2,283 cars in 2001-02, 375 per cent higher than 481 cars exported in 2000-01.

By exporting 11,799 vehicles from the country, Tata Engineering accounted for about 6.5 per cent of all exports from the country, the data showed.

Maruti Udyog, the country's largest car maker, suffered small reverses in its exports of cars, although utility vehicle exports improved in the year.

Its car exports at 11,874 units was lower by 21 per cent while utility vehicle exports at 356 units was higher by 45 per cent.

In contrast to their smooth ride in the country, two-wheelers found the export market a bit tougher.

Total two-wheeler exports dipped about seven per cent year-on-year to 1,03,681 units.

Like in the domestic market, motorcycles weathered this downtrend with exports from this segment rising 36.6 per cent.

Yamaha Motor India Pvt Ltd retained its position as the largest exporter of motorcycles in the country. Its exports in the year were flat at 20,321 units.

Pune-based Bajaj Auto Ltd posted significantly better performance in the export market in 2001-02, with its scooter exports rising by 25.13 per cent and motorcycle exports rising by a massive 175 per cent. Its moped exports, however, fell 16.6 per cent, the data showed.

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AF Ferguson is consultant for CIL, subsidiaries