In November 2023, two stalwart automotive brands, Volkswagen and Skoda, divulged their respective sales performances in the Indian market. The cumulative figures showcased that Volkswagen achieved a combined total of 3,095 units, while Skoda recorded slightly higher numbers with 3,783 units. However, both manufacturers faced a downturn in terms of year-on-year (YoY) and month-on-month (MoM) comparisons when scrutinized against their sales data from November 2022 and October 2023, respectively.
Volkswagen Sales Breakdown - November 2023
A once-diverse portfolio of German engineering, including models like the Polo hatchback, Vento sedan, Jetta sedan, Passat sedan, and T-Roc crossover import, has now streamlined into three distinct vehicles in the Indian market. The current lineup comprises the Taigun and Tiguan SUVs, alongside the Virtus sedan. The evident shift in consumer preferences towards high-riding compact SUVs and crossovers has positioned Taigun as Volkswagen's frontrunner in terms of sales, constituting a substantial 57.22% of the total volume.
Despite its prominence, the Taigun experienced a dip in sales totaling 1,771 units in November. This marked a 10.51% YoY decline and a 20.19% MoM decline. On the other hand, the Virtus, contributing 37.93% to the overall VW sales in India, saw a notable decrease with 1,174 units sold, reflecting a 22.51% YoY decline and a significant 33.75% MoM decline. The Tiguan, buoyed by lucrative discounts, exhibited robust performance by doubling its volumes YoY with a remarkable 97.37% growth and a commendable 53.06% MoM growth. Despite these positive aspects, the overall sales figures for Volkswagen witnessed a 13.31% YoY decline and a substantial 24.31% MoM decline.
Skoda Sales Analysis - November 2023
Parallel to Volkswagen, Skoda's lineup in India features three distinct vehicles - the Kushaq SUV, Slavia sedan, and the Kodiaq 3-row SUV. The brand had previously offered a more extensive range, including models like the Fabia hatchback, Rapid, Octavia, and Superb sedans along with the Yeti crossover and Karoq crossover import. Despite Skoda outperforming Volkswagen in terms of individual vehicle sales, the brand faced an overall decline in sales volume.
The Kushaq SUV, mirroring the Taigun's significance for VW, emerged as Skoda's best-seller in India. With 1,908 units sold in November, the Kushaq experienced a marginal 5.03% YoY decline and a more significant 22.03% MoM decline. The market share for Kushaq stood at an impressive 50.44% of Skoda's total sales. Slavia, contributing 46% to Skoda's overall sales, encountered a 13.50% YoY decline and a 9.98% MoM decline, with volume losses of 273 units YoY and 194 units MoM. The Kodiaq, with 126 units sold, faced an 8.70% YoY decline and a notable 28.41% MoM decline.
Collectively, Skoda achieved a total of 3,783 units in sales during November, indicating a 14.66% YoY decline and a substantial 17.15% MoM decline. The brand lost 650 and 783 units in volume compared to the previous year and the preceding month, respectively. Skoda is poised to introduce the Superb sedan in India, anticipated to be imported through the Completely Built-Up (CBU) route.
In essence, while both Volkswagen and Skoda faced challenges in the current market scenario the detailed breakdown provides a comprehensive understanding of their performances and the broader trends shaping the Indian automotive landscape.