NEW DELHI: Indians may not be buying as many cars as the Chinese but we are certainly exporting just as much. At 172,522 units, India’s passenger vehicle export tally in calendar 2005, is just a tad higher than China’s estimated 160,000 units.
So far, China has clocked 135,000 units in the January-October period compared with India’s 135,204 units in the same stretch.
What has helped India’s export run is the fourth-gear performance in December. Passenger vehicle exports hit an estimated 25,707 units, although domestic sales were flat as usual.
The India-China race in exports can be contrasted with the domestic tally in the two markets. According to stats from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, India finished calendar 2005 with total passenger vehicle production of an estimated 1.2 million units, up 8.5% over last year.
China is all set to close the year with approximately 5.6 million units, up 10% from a year ago. While India’s 30% clip last year outshone China’s 15% increase, the growth stakes are now evenly balanced. But the Indian market is one-fifth of China’s domestic sales.
India’s sales tally in 2005 was even lower at just over 7% or 1.1 million units. Export growth too is strictly single digit at 4.5%, a sharp fall from last year’s nearly 50% growth. Of course, auto analysts say Indian car exports go to both developed as well as emerging markets.
In contrast, Chinese exports predominantly go to smaller African and Asian markets. Around 20-25% of all passenger vehicle exports come from Chery and Geely, two Chinese brands that sell abroad for less than $10,000.
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