Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai.SIAM Says July Witnesses Robust Auto Sales
The country’s automobile industry has registered a robust and very creditable double-digit growth across major vehicle segments last month (July).
Passenger Vehicles (PVs) sales moved northward a steep 34 per cent on a Year-on-Year (YoY) basis to 4,57,810 units during the month while three-wheeler sales also expanded robustly, climbing 33 per cent to 92,560 units, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
The two-wheeler segment also clocked a healthy 23 per cent increase to 19.23-lakh units. Here, it is important to note the fact that this segment is the largest among the major vehicle categories.
“India’s automobile industry delivered its strongest-ever July sales, with robust double-digit growth across passenger vehicles, three-wheelers and two-wheelers,” the industry body’s Director-General, Mr Rajesh Menon, said.
According to him the positive momentum which has been sustained over several months, has continued as the industry enters the festive season with expectations of a strong consumer sentiment.
An important point that requires highlighting here is that this broad-based growth points to improving demand condition in the automobile market ahead of the key festive period.
It also marks the continued momentum for manufacturers and dealers after several months of growth.
India’s Kharif Sowing Deficit Down to 1.82 pc Despite Paddy Lagging
The shortfall in the area under kharif crops this season has reduced to 1.82 per cent from a year-ago, data released by Agriculture Ministry showed.
This is so even as paddy, the season’s dominant crop, continues to lag, stated the data.
As of August 7 this year, the total kharif crop coverage stood at 967.92-lakh hectares as compared to the 985.89-lakh hectares during the corresponding period of last year.
Paddy sowing was recorded at 344.78-lakh hectares, down 4.40 per cent from the 360.67-lakh hectares of a year earlier.
The area coverage of pulses slid from 105.73-lakh hectares previously to 103.78-lakh hectares while coarse cereals were sown across a lesser 168.50-lakh hectares as compared to the 173.21-lakh hectares of the last year.
A point to highlight here is that the acreage under oilseeds moved northward—increasing marginally to 180.20-lakh hectares from the 175.01-lakh hectares previously.
Among cash crops, sugarcane area slid a little to 58.31-lakh hectares from the previous 58.62-lakh hectares. While cotton remained unchanged at 106-lakh hectares as against 106.42-lakh hectares, a point to note here is that the acreage under jute/mesta climbed up to 6.32-lakh hectares from the previous 6.22-lakh hectares.
Kharif sowing in the country typically gains momentum with the onset of the south-west monsoon in June. This year, however, sowing got delayed due to a shortfall in rain linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon.
As of August 5 this year, the all-India rainfall deficit stood at eleven per cent, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data.
Tamil Nadu: 97 MoUs Inked at State Govt’s First Investment Conclave
The Tamil Nadu state government led by its Chief Minister Mr Joseph Vijay has attracted significant investor-interest in the state with a huge 97 MoUs worth over Rs 67,542-crore inked at its first major investment conclave.
The conclave called Vettri Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave 2026 was held in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu.
“With today’s announcements, the cumulative investment commitments in the first 100 days of our government will cross Rs 1-lakh-crore, generating more than 1.2-lakh job opportunities. This is on average a Rs 1,000-crore committed capital for every single day we have been in office,” the Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Ms S Keerthana, said in her address at the conclave.
A significant investment of Rs 2,500-crore was announced by the blue-riband Hinduja group in the state. The group will be investing in renewable energy, electric mobility, automobiles, financial services, energy, battery charging infrastructure and digital mobility solutions.
There will be a development of 200 MW+ renewable energy projects by Hinduja Renewables Energy Pvt Ltd (HREPL) spanning solar, wind and battery technologies.
Another well-known group, the Phoenix Kothari Group, has also announced a huge Rs 1,000-croreo investment in the coastal district of Ramanathapuram.
A massive Rs 4,000-crore investment is on the anvil from Germany’s Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, which plans to expand its 400-acre Oragadam facility for design, Research and Development (R&D) and manufacturing of commercial vehicles.
Another European company, France’s Saint Gobain will invest a huge Rs 2,000-crore across a new greenfield plant in Krishnagiri as well as in an expansion in Kancheepuram.
Japan’s YKK and Singapore’s Ascendas Firstspace have both also announced significant investments in the southern state. YKK is the world’s largest manufacturer of zippers and fastening products and has announced an investment of Rs 1,651-crore in Tiruvallur near Chennai, which is expected to create 4,316 jobs.
Ascendas Firstspace’s investment is to develop a Rs 1,000-crore industrial park in Tiruvallur.
The Titan Company, a domestic biggie, has announced a Rs 1,000-crore investment in Hosur to expand its facilities for premium watches, jewellery and automation equipment for its electronics business, and is expected to create 1,200 jobs.
Another domestic major, Lucas TVS, plans to invest Rs 2,500-crore across multiple facilities. Two space sector majors—Agnikul Cosmos and Skyroot Aerospace—will invest Rs 400-crore and Rs 250-crore, respectively, in the state.
These investments are expected to generate 1,500 jobs and 500 jobs, respectively.
The life-sciences sector too witnessed activity with eight companies inking MoUs. S3V Vascular Technologies has announced an investment of Rs 525-crore in Kancheepuram to manufacture cardio-vascular and neuro-vascular implants.
Cellbios Healthcare & Lifesciences has also announced an investment of Rs 150-crore across Dindigul and Krishnagiri districts. The company is a manufacturer of specialised freezing bags for cell and gene therapy.
Another significant investment of Rs 925-crore has been announced by the Caplin Group of Companies which includes a new integrated biologics and biosimilars R&D and manufacturing facility in Tiruvallur.
The MoUs were exchanged in the presence of Tamil Nadu chief minister Mr Joseph Vijay, minister Ms Keerthana and other senior government officials.
Google, RAI Join Hands to Drive Digital Adoption in Retail Storefronts
Google and Retailers Association of India (RAI) have announced a strategic collaboration to considerably up digital adoption among the country’s retailers. There will be a strong focus on small and medium businesses through RAI’s network representing over six-lakh storefronts across the country.
According to a joint press release, the collaboration will leverage Google’s product eco-system, including Googe Business Profile, Google Ads, Google Shopping and Google Cloud, to deliver scalable digital solutions and expand digital enablement for retailers.
The initiative will focus on three key areas—digital adoption among small and medium retailers, sharing industry insights and digital readiness framework and preparing businesses for the future of commerce through industry summits, executive workshops and leadership dialogues.
RAI’s chief executive officer Mr Kumar Rajagopalan said that the initiative aims to help retailers adopt technologies that enable them to remain relevant to customers.
Both Google and RAI will establish a joint working group comprising representatives from both the entities to oversee implementation of the initiative. This joint working group will monitor execution of the initiative and share industry learnings and best practices as the collaboration progresses.
