Mahindra & Mahindra’s passenger vehicles segment, which manufactures and markets utility vehicles, cars and vans, has sold a total of 15,880 units in June 2015, down 14.78% (June 2014 : 18,635).
These sales comprise 1,447 cars and vans (-32% YoY) and 14,433 utility vehicles (-12% YoY). The company, which has a predominantly diesel-engined vehicle portfolio, is feeling the pressure of stagnating sales from rural India and also the narrowing price differential between petrol and diesel.
However, the company is optimistic about sales going forward. Speaking on the June sales performance, Pravin Shah, president and chief executive (Automotive), Mahindra & Mahindra, “With a normal monsoon till date, an overall positive sentiment and a slew of new launches in the automotive industry, we expect buoyancy in demand going forward. The new XUV500 has been very well received by customers.”