Exports of Made-in-India vehicles went up by a whopping 56% during the last fiscal as cars, two-wheelers, commercial and utility vehicles continued to charm overseas buyers .
A total of 4.79 lakh units were shipped during 2003-04, compared to over 3.07 lakh units in the previous year, data compiled by the ministry of heavy industry & public enterprise showed. In value terms, exports crossed $1-billion mark.
Car exports surged by a massive 78% to 1.26 lakh units as Maruti Udyog posted a 59.4% rise at 50,247 units . South Korean major Hyundai Motor India, which exports compact car Santro and Atos Prime, registered a hefty rise of 370% at 42,115 units. Ford Motor India, however, witnessed a 13% decline at 24,000 units.
Over the last four years, the exports of automobiles have grown by roughly three-and-a-half times. In 2000-01, automobile exports stood at 1.68 lakh units, which grew to 1.84 lakh units in 2001-02.
There has also been a major upswing in the export of automobile components which grew 26% from Rs 2,775 crore in 2001-02 to Rs 3,496 crore in 2002-03, and further grew 30% in 2003-04 to Rs 4,550 crore.
A host of major international automobile companies are increasingly harnessing India as a production base, either through FDI or indirectly by contracting with firms operating in the country.
Tata Motors, which has inked a deal with British auto-maker MG Rover to sell its small car Indica in the UK and Europe as City Rover, posted a 322% growth at 8,895 units. Commercial vehicle exports climbed 40.5% to 17,227 units while two-wheelers notched a 47% rise to 2.64 lakh units in 2003-04.
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