Maruti, Hyundai gear up to boost export

After registering a 15 per cent exports drop in 2013-14, the country's largest passenger car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), aims to crack new markets. And, the largest car exporter, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), plans to add new models to its export kitty, to maintain its first position.

MSIL exports to over 100 countries and is now focussing on developing new markets —examples are Angola, Mozambique and Benin in Africa, apart from Panama, Uruguay and Colombia.

MSIL's top five export markets in FY14 were Britain (14,700 units), Algeria (13,400), Chile (9,000), Indonesia (5,200) and Peru (4,700). The most exported models were the A-Star (45,193 units), Alto 800 (13,624), Dzire (13,288) and Swift (11,579). Total exports, however, were 101,352 units, down from 120,388 units in FY13. With this dip, MSIL lost the second spot to Nissan India, which managed to export 116,314 units, a 17.5 per cent jump.

An MSIL spokesperson said of the dip, "The European Union markets continue to be under stress. A large part of our exports were EU-dominant. We are now looking at new markets; it takes time to develop these. We are confident once the enablers are in place, like product and distributor, we will be able to enhance our sales in these markets."

He adds the company has been given a mandate by its Japanese parent, Suzuki Motor Corporation, to focus on Africa and West Asia/North Africa.

Its export target for 2014-15 isn't very ambitious; it aims at achieve similar levels as in FY14. Meanwhile, it plans to strengthen its product range for export. "For example, we have introduced the left-hand-drive version of the Dzire, Swift and Ertiga in recent months to explore opportunity in the LHD markets," the spokesperson said. India's largest car exporter, HMIL, recorded a 10.2 per cent drop to 233,260 units in FY14 from 259,811 units in 2012-13. It is planning to export its new Xcent model to countries in Latin America and West Asia.

Maruti Suzuki India Limited

Hyundai Motor India Ltd.