Chapter 6 Growth of Automobiles Production In
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P ag e N o .: 104 CHAPTER 6 GROWTH OF AUTOMOBILES PRODUCTION IN INDIA 6.01. INTRODUCTION. ... 105 6.02. PRODUCTION OF DIFFERENT PRODUCT SEGMENTS. 108 6.03. REVIEW OF PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY. 110 A. FIRMS STILL IN PRODUCTION. ... 110 B. FIRMS WHICH HAVE STOPPED PRODUCTION. 114 6.04. CAPACITY UTILISATION OF TWO WHEELER FIRMS. 120 6.05. MARKET SHARE OF TWO WHEELER FIRMS. 123 6.06. SELECTION OF LEADER FIRM BASED ON 129 GROWTH OF TWO WHEELER PRODUCTION IN INDIA. 6.07. APPRAISAL OF THE LEADER FIRM. 133 P ag e No.: 105 CHAPTER 6 GROWTH OF AUTOMOBILES PRODUCTION IN INDIA 6.01. INTRODUCTION: The automobile firms in India are producing various types of vehicles such as cars, jeeps, heavy commercial vehicles, medium commercial vehicles, light commercial vehicles, three wheelers, motor cycles, scooters, mopeds, sport and racing vehicles, tractors, agricultural equipments etc. The automobile firms which first started production in India in 1947, have multiplied manifold during last 50 years. Considering the number of firms and number of products, the study of any aspect of Indian automobile firms will have an unlimited scope. All the product segments can not be studied together due to the fact that each product segment has got different facets such as amount of investment, class of buyers, manufacturing ^cycle, technology involved etc. and hence, taking the whole automobile industry for comparing production growth may give misleading results. The study of production of particular segment will be more useful to draw meaningful conclusions on growth of production, market share or capacity utilisation etc. The production data of Indian automobile industry in broad product segments in 1994 is given in Table No. 6.01. The percentage of each broad product range with total production is also shown in Table No. 6.01. P ag e N o .: 106 T a b le No.6.01 Product Segments based on production in 1994 Type of Product No-of Units Percent Passenger Cars 2,49,280 9 Jeeps 48,764 2 Commercial Vehicles 1,88.819 7 Scooters 9,88,611 35 Motor Cycles 6,00,031 21 77 Mopeds 4.96.232 17 Three Wheelers 1,21,284 4 Tractors 1,54,379 5 Total 28,47,400 100 It is observed from the above table that about 77% automobile production is accounted for by two and three wheeler segment. It is also interesting to note that the firms entering in the industry and stopping the line of production is significantly high in case of two wheeler segment as seen from Annexure 6.01. The annexure 6.01 is based on average production of each firm during last five, ten and fifteen years. Based on highest production during the above period, a firm is ranked as 1st and 2nd. Annexure 6.01 also shows the names of the firms not in leading position but are still continuing production. Annexure 6.01 also shows the firms which have stopped the production in the various product segments. The two wheeler segment shows that large P ag e No.: 107 number of firms have stopped the product line. Considering the various aspects of different product segments, the study is restricted to those product segments in which the growth of production as well as capacity utilisation is erratic. The analysis of production of various firms in each type of automobile reveals the fact that two wheeler industry shows large variation in production, capacity utilisation and market share. It is also seen that the number of firms stopping production in this segment are much more than those continuing production. It is therefore felt necessary to go into the details of production, capacity utilisation and market share of two wheeler industry only. It is planned to analyse following aspects of various firms and choose a leader firm from two wheeler sector based on these aspects and then study in detail the strategies of a leader firm. Before going into details of the above aspects, it is thought necessary to review in brief the historical background and production of the two wheeler firms in Indian automobile industry. 1. Product and Technology used 2. Trend in Capacity Utilisation 3. Relative Market share. 4. Selection of leader firm based on Rate of growth in production/sales 5. Appraisal of the leader firm. P ag e N o .: 108 6.02. PRODUCTION OF DIFFERENT PRODUCT SEGMENTS: The production trend of two wheelers in various segments such as Scooters, Motor Cycles and Mopeds in past period is given in Annexure 6.02. The latest trend for past fifteen years is given in Table no. 6.02. It is observed that during 1980-85, the share of scooter production declined while that of mopeds increased. During last decade, the share of scooter production increased and moped production declined. The share of motorcycle production remained almost constant. Table 6.02 Trend of Production of Scooters, Motor Cycles & Mopeds YEAR SCOOTERS MOTOR CYCLES MOPEDS % % % 1980 50 24 26 1981 41 22 37 1982 42 22 36 1983 36 21 43 1984 35 21 44 1985 38 22 40 1986 44 23 33 1987 45 22 34 1988 42 26 32 1989 49 24 27 1990 52 26 22 1991 49 27 24 1992 46 26 28 1993 47 26 27 1994 47 29 24 P ag e No.: 109 The two wheelers so far produced by Indian automobile firms in each segment is given in Annexure 6.03. The firms having long standing in the particular segment naturally will have highest production. The review shows following picture as given in table 6.03. The segraentwise growth rate of selected firms shows that some firms have achieved higher production during a short period. Ranking is given based on average annual production during the period or production of the particular product segment. Table No. 6.03 Productwise production of selected firms NAME OF THE FIRM NO.OF YEARS UNITS IN LAKH RANK SCOOTERS: TOTAL AVERAGE BAJAJ AUTO LIMITED 35 59.42 1.70 1 MAHARASHTRA SCOOTERS LTD 19 12.25 0.64 3 LML LIMITED 12 11.56 0.96 2 MOTOR CYCLES: ESCORTS LIMITED 33 18.40 0.56 3 HERO HONDA MOTORS LTD 15 10.19 0.68 1 BAJAJ AUTO LIMITED 17 10.03 0.59 2 MOPEDS: KINETIC ENGINEERING LTD. 23 22.35 0.97 2 MAJESTIC AUTO LIMITED 17 11.41 0.67 3 TVS SUZUKI LIMITED 7 10.56 1.51 1 The above table shows that long standing of the firm does not necessarily give lead in total production but certain other factors are responsible. The external forces and inner strengths of the firm are two main areas affecting the rate P ag e N o .: 110 of production. 6.03 REVIEW OF PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY: The growth of production depends on the technology used in production and the product itself. The consumer demand is directly related to the value of the product which comes from the quality, fuel efficiency, safety etc. These aspects are in-built in the product by using advanced technology at lower cost to the customer. The various firms in two wheeler industry are mostly using imported technology. There are very few firms which have developed the product using inhouse technology. In the following paragraphs, a brief review of various products and technology is taken. A. FIRMS STILL IN PRODUCTION: 1. Bajaj Auto Limited: The firm started Scooter production in 1960 in technical collaboration with M/s. Piaggio & Company, Italy. The scooters were marketed under the name ”Vespa". After the expiry of collaboration agreement, the firm started marketing its product under the name ”Bajaj". In 1961, the firm also started production of Three Wheelers with the technical collaboration of above company. In 1978, the firm developed with inhouse technology of Motor Cycle and introduced a 50cc brand called M50 which was latter upgraded as M80. In 1983, the firm entered into a technical collaboration agreement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Japan for manufacture of 100 cc Motor Cycles. In 1990, the firm developed with inhouse technology, a 50cc Moped P ag e N o .: 111 marketed under the brand name "Sunny". The firm is unique having four product segments. 2. Enfield India Limited: In 1954, the firm entered into collaboration agreement with M/s. Enfield Cycle Co. U.K. for manufacture of Motor Cycles. The production of Motor Cycles started in 1955 and were marketed under the name "Royal Enfield" and "Crusader". In 1962, the firm started producing scooters which were marketed under brand name "Fantabulus". The scooters were made in collaboration with M/s.Villiers Engineering Co. U.K. The production of scooters was stopped in 1975. The firm also manufactured Three Wheelers during 1962 and 1967. In 1984, the firm entered into technical collaboration agreement with M/s. Zundapp Werke GmbH, Gernamy. The firm started producing Mopedis under the brand name "Silver Plus" and "Explorer". Presently the firm is marketing "Bullet 350 cc" Motor Cycles. 3. Escorts Limited: The firm is producing various engineering products. In automobile sector it produces Motor Cycles, Scooters and Agricultural Tractors. The firm markets its motor cycles and scooters under the name "Rajdoot" and "Yamaha" respectively and tractors under the name "Escorts". The firm started manufacture of Scooters in 1969 and stopped in 1979. The production of Motor Cycles was started in 1962. In 1960, the firm obtained technical and financial collaboration with M/s. CHKOP of Poland. In 1978, the firm entered into P ag e N o .: 112 technical collaboration with M/s. Yamaha of Japan for manufacture of 350cc Motor Cycles. In 1985, the firm entered into another collaboration agreement with Yamaha of Japan for manufacture of lOOcc Motorcycles.