23% growth in car sales in 2022 over 2021 is a shoulder-clapping moment for the indian automobile industry
What a turbocharged kickstart to 2023. The first is CES in Las Vegas, where automotive companies are taking pole positions to showcase their tech alongside futuristic technologies. Then, back at base, the Auto Expo 2023 kicks off with all participating brands showcasing what vehicles are being cooked up to serve in the coming years. CES, which is the world’s biggest tech show, had keynotes from BMW Chairman - Oliver Zipse, and it was perhaps one of the most exhilarating and orchestrated keynotes I have ever seen. Furthermore, Arnold Schwarzenegger and the storytelling leading up to showing the ix flow and its colour-changing car were mesmerising. Honestly, all trade shows globally have lost their glory and full might post the pandemic. Even CES was only at 70% occupancy compared to its pre-pandemic levels. The Auto Expo 2023 in Delhi, too, had manufacturers such as Volkswagen Group, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and major twowheeler manufacturers that did not participate in the sole largest auto show in the country certainly causes concern and showcases a dreary future for the trade show itself. Having just returned from CES and experienced the Mercedes EQS 450+ SUV and its precise cruise control on a long drive from Los Angeles to las vegas was the closest you can get to autonomous driving with four fingers still on the steering. We will need to get towards lane marking and lane discipline while driving especially on highways and that could be the real harbinger of Road Safety and make real use of all ADAS functions.
The report card of 2022 for the Indian Auto Industry has all the rankings and records broken. The demand continued and surpassed industry expectations and recorded its highest-ever sales- with 23 per cent growth as the manufacturers sold 3.793 million units in 2022, outperforming the previous record of 3.33 million units in 2018. Sales numbers are a sign of significant celebration not just for OEMs but also for its ancillaries. We have added the numbers and analysed the top manufacturers’ performance [Page 16-17]. Now, whether the momentum will continue in 2023 is a serious question. With the world doing brutal bouts of recession sneezing, auto manufacturers might have to gear up and sharpen their marketing to lure in the next spate of buyers to keep the sales register ringing.
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