The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) in its latest data has showed that passenger vehicle exports from India declined 57.52 per cent in April-September period of the current fiscal year (H1FY21) as COVID-19 related disruptions hampered despatches to various global markets. Passenger vehicle exports in the H1FY21 stood at 1,55,156 units as compared with 3,65,247 units in the year-ago period.
Passenger car exports during the period under review stood at 1,00,529 units, down 64.93 per cent from 2,86,618 units in April-September, 2019-20. Similarly, utility vehicle shipments saw a drop of 29.67 per cent at 54,375 units from 77,309 units in the same period of 2019-20. Van shipments also witnessed a drop of 80.91 per cent at 252 units from 1,320 units in April-September last year. SIAM Director General -- Rajesh Menon said this can be largely attributed to the COVID-19 related disruptions globally, which has led to closure of plants and dealerships, supply chain disruptions, curfews in cities and interruptions in international trade.
However, he added with relaxation in lockdown norms globally, exports have improved in the recent past and the monthly shipments in second half of the current fiscal are expected to be higher than earlier months. During the second quarter of FY21 (July-September), PV exports declined by 41.96 per cent to 1,11,555 units as compared with 1,92,193 units in the same period of 2019-20. All the major PV exporters saw significant drop in their overseas shipments during the first six months of the current fiscal.