“Halt!” stated Coronavirus and the world got here to a standstill. Everybody shut their doorways and home windows and the roads grew to become empty. 

Talking of empty roads, the vehicle trade took an enormous hit when the financial market started falling, globally. In the month of April, producers in India reported nil gross sales following the stringent lockdown and an 80-90% dip in home gross sales in the month of Might. The steep downward trajectory nonetheless took a optimistic flip in the month of June with auto giants like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motors reporting a slowdown in the decline tempo.

In the midst of this, the manufacturing and R&D departments in vehicle corporations bore the most influence at the onset of the pandemic. For R&D personnel, the incubation interval to showcase outcomes is relatively longer than the manufacturing division. Because of this, this workforce needed to bear the most skilled uncertainty.

To grasp the restoration trajectory of this sector, we should draw a comparability with China which is claimed to be the origin of the virus. Allow us to check out how Mercedes-Benz fared there, which can be by the way their largest market. Mercedes-Benz has had a constant presence in the auto tradition of China and is taken into account the most most popular luxurious vehicle model for the previous decade. In the event you have a look at the graph under, you’ll discover that the previous two years have been notably good for the firm.

Source

Mercedes-Benz Vans set a brand new gross sales document as soon as once more in the FY2019, with a rise of 4% on the earlier yr’s determine ensuing in a sale of 438,400 models. The Mercedes-Benz Vehicles division offered a complete of 2,385,400 automobiles in 2019 and surpassed the document stage of unit gross sales set in the earlier yr. Nonetheless, throughout the pandemic part in China, the luxurious vehicle sector in the area witnessed a drop of 14% in gross sales as in comparison with different international locations throughout the globe.

World v/s China Car Gross sales 

Source

Throughout the first quarter of 2021, a visual drop will be seen in vehicle gross sales in all markets throughout the globe. Nonetheless, as China entered its restoration part from the pandemic, the area started to indicate an uptick in gross sales.

China’s Recovering Automotive Industry

Source

In the event you consult with the graph above, the quantity of automobiles being offered in the China market started to choose up in the months of April and Might. Nonetheless, gross sales throughout the relaxation of the world continued to fall at an alarming charge in the identical interval.

To derive an estimated restoration graph of the vehicle sectors in markets outdoors China, it’s crucial to take a more in-depth have a look at the quantity of COVID-19 instances in China in the previous few months as in comparison with India and the relaxation of the world. The trajectory of these instances have a direct influence on how we will understand the market well being of the vehicle trade throughout all markets.

China v/s India

Source

Much like the dip in the quantity of COVID-19 instances witnessed by China in February 2021, India can be anticipated to see a gentle decline in the quantity of instances in the latter half of the yr. This means that the market restoration part of India can even have the same graph as China.

Stemming from this, allow us to take a more in-depth have a look at the present Indian financial situation, particularly in the context of the luxurious automotive trade. This sector has witnessed a dramatic drop in gross sales throughout the pandemic. For Mercedes-Benz, it has been the worst gross sales dip in the final 7 years.

Source

The gross sales share in India in the previous few years reveals how necessary the Indian market is for Mercedes-Benz however now it seems dismal for not solely Mercedes-Benz vehicles however different luxurious automobile corporations as effectively. 

Source

In a latest interview with Autocar Professional, Martin Schwenk, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, Pune, stated, “We stay cautiously optimistic as we steadily ramp up our gross sales amidst the prevalent market challenges triggered by the pandemic. We’re glad to witness a gradual motion from earlier months and we count on this pattern to assemble momentum. Nonetheless, restoration might be gradual and we presently count on buyer sentiments to revive going ahead, although the market situations would proceed to stay difficult. Our focus stays on producing demand and supporting the buyer on their buy choice with modern monetary options like WishBox 2.0.”

Regardless that some states in India are nonetheless underneath lockdown, it’s troublesome for a corporation like Mercedes-Benz to promote their vehicles in the present situation. Going by the latest gross sales figures and COVID-19 instances, the market scenario goes to stay kind of stagnant for luxurious automobile corporations like Mercedes-Benz for at the very least one other couple of months. We draw this conclusion after the pattern in China a couple of months in the past.

It was solely after months of strict lockdown and security measures that they have been in a position to management the pandemic and the market slowly started to get again on monitor. Thus, a flipside to the scenario is the sense of hope that the vehicle sector will be derived from the China market’s restoration part. 

Additionally Learn: Information Science in Automotive Industry

Survival of the Quickest

Throughout the pre-pandemic part, vehicle corporations in India checked out 10-15 yr lengthy imaginative and prescient objectives. Nonetheless, the quickly falling graph, it’s crucial for corporations to assume on their toes and focus on fast options. To get vehicles again on the roads as quickly as potential, options which are dynamic and with extra security checks have to be added whereas balancing the guidelines and rules.

Quick time period and long run concepts each have a really transient window of alternative for vehicle gamers. Whereas self-driven vehicles might have an enormous market the future, the dire want immediately is security and options that can add to the new regular life expertise. The gamers that act shortly and discover a steadiness between short-term and long-term objectives are the ones that can most likely make it to the end line.

If you’re curious to study knowledge evaluation, the science behind discovering patterns & calculations, try IIIT-B & upGrad’s PG Diploma in Information Science which is created for working professionals and provides 10+ case research & initiatives, sensible hands-on workshops, mentorship with trade specialists, 1-on-1 with trade mentors, 400+ hours of studying and job help with high companies.