10 notable facts about Indian automobile market

Indian automotive industry has grown by leaps and bounds, sometimes taking turns that are surprising and sometimes fascinating. ETAuto analyses a few number related to auto industry that helps in differentiating notions from truth.

For example, the recent double digit growth rate of scooters and the strong beginning it had in Indian market, tell a different story than what actually unfolded in the last two decades.

Below are a few such facts that will lend a different perspective and a closer understanding of the industry.

1. Eight out of ten bikes sold is either from Hero, Honda or Bajaj

In financial year 2014-15, 16,004,581 two-wheeler were sold in India, out of which 12,500,000 sold were either a Hero MotoCorp, Honda or Bajaj brand two-wheeler.

2. One in every two scooters sold is a Honda Activa

In April 2015, 173,087 Honda Activa were sold in April 2015 while total of 344,752 scooters were sold in the same month. This shows that out of every 2 scooters that hit the road in India, 1 of them is an Honda Activa.

3. Out of ten Renault sold in India, 9 are Dusters

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We all know that Duster is the most successful model for Renault in India, but how successful, that only stats can tell us. Out of 43,384 passenger vehicles sold in FY15, 39,279 units were Dusters, which means 9 out of 10 Renaults sold today is a Duster.

4. The number of vehicle Fiat sells in a year, Maruti sells in just three days

Maruti is the leading car manufacturer and that too by some distance. Fiat India's sales figures highlight the fact in a way that couldn't be more fascinating. Maruti Suzuki sold 1,170,702 in FY15 which comes to 3,207 units sold a day. Compare this to Fiat which sold just 10,380 vehicles in FY15 - a figure that will take MSIL just three days to reach.

5. Two Maruti Suzuki cars are sold every minute

Maruti's sales never fail to surprise anybody who cares to look at the numbers. But some perspectives are just hard to ignore. 1,170,702 units sold in a year translate to over 2 units sold every minute.

6. One two-wheeler comes out of the production line every two seconds in India

India, no doubt is a big market for two-wheelers with numerous manufacturers present in the country and the production figures reveal that too. Close to 18,499,970 two-wheelers were produced in India in FY15, which meant that a two-wheeler came out of an assembly line every two seconds.

7. Thirteen models from three manufacturers use the same 1.3L multijet diesel engine from Fiat

While the Fiat cars might not be setting the charts on fire, another Fiat product sure is firing up a lot of successful models in India. Fiat's 1.3 litre multijet diesel engine is doing duty in nearly 13 models including the second highest selling car Swift Dzire/Swift in India, from three manufacturers including Fiat itself.

8. From one car made for 3186 people in India in 1995, we now have 481 people for that one car

1995 was the time when India jumped on to the automotive growth bandwagon and has not looked back ever since. Today for a population of 1.25 billion people, 2,601,111 cars are produced, compared to just 3,00,000 cars produced for 956 million people.

9. One out of every two three-wheeler passenger carrier is a Bajaj

What Activa is to the scooter segment, Bajaj is for the three-wheeler passenger carrier segment. Out of 432,234 multijet diesel engine passenger carrier, 234,345 units sold are from Bajaj Auto.

10.  Long-term scooter sales grew only 4.5 times since 1995 

Contrary to huge growth rate seen in the scooter segment in the last few quarters in the long-term scooter sales grew only 4.5 times since 1995 compared to 17.3 times surge in motorcycles sales in India

A generation shift is sometimes best described by numbers and that stands true even here. From a time when scooters were the need of the hour, we soon took liking to motorcycles. WHile scooters grew only 4.5 times in 2 decades since 1995, motorcycles raced away and grew by over 17 times.