Automatic gearbox vehicles shaped a mere 2-3 per cent of the market in India through the begin of the final decade, however now their share has risen to about 23 per cent (information by carmakers). Automotive analysts FE has talked to stated that affordability, selection and visitors jams are key causes for increasingly patrons selecting an computerized gearbox automotive over a guide.
“Because of traffic jams, driving convenience has emerged as a major buying factor; an automatic car is more convenient to drive than a manual in traffic,” stated one analyst. “A considerable share of ladies patrons and senior residents want computerized vehicles for a similar purpose.
”While 23 per cent computerized automotive gross sales penetration sounds excessive sufficient (contemplating we had nearly negligible computerized vehicles a bit over a decade in the past), some new-age carmakers are promoting nearly one-third of their vehicles as automatics. For instance, computerized transmission contributes 32% to the dispatches of Kia India within the home market.
Hardeep S Brar, vice-president & head, Marketing & Sales, Kia India, advised FE that in fashions just like the Seltos and the Carens, greater than 33 per cent of gross sales come from computerized gearbox variants. “The popularity of the automatic transmission is majorly in urban areas because people want stress-free driving on congested urban roads. Rural customers still primarily prefer manual transmission cars,” Brar stated. “Kia India noticed this development intently and launched computerized transmissions preserving the new-age buyer base in thoughts. Currently, 33 per cent of the variants Kia sells in India throughout the portfolio are geared up with computerized transmission.
”Kia India has taken the ‘choice’ path to popularise the expertise. It presents its prospects vehicles with 4 computerized gearbox choices (6AT, 8AT, IVT and 7DCT), along with two guide gearbox choices and the iMT (clever guide transmission)—a expertise that provides each computerized and guide gearbox advantages.
“Keeping hassle-free ownership experience in mind, Kia India introduced the iMT gearbox in 2020, which is as fun-to-drive as a manual gearbox and as practical as an automatic can be. Currently, iMT contributes 25 per cent to Kia India’s overall sales,” Brar stated. “The iMT gearbox was launched with the Sonet and now it has been prolonged to the Seltos line-up, too.
”In the Sonet and the Carnival, Kia India presents 7-speed DCT and 6-speed AT gearbox choices; within the Seltos, it presents IVT along with 7-speed DCT and 6-speed AT; and within the Carnival, Kia India presents the 8-speed AT coupled with the diesel engine.
Brar added that the gross sales share of computerized gearbox vehicles to complete vehicles will preserve rising due to the rise in visitors, drivers preferring stress-free driving, rising disposable incomes, enchancment in computerized gearbox expertise, and extra selection by way of computerized gearbox choices available in the market.
Just a few years later, with the mass arrival of electrical vehicles, the guide gearbox might be historical past. Electric vehicles don’t have a traditional gearbox, however have only one gear, working which is similar to the present computerized gearbox.
Automatic gearbox gross sales
Sales share of Kia vehicles with computerized transmission to Kia’s complete gross sales
Year | Sales (%) |
CY19 | 4% |
CY20 | 36% |
CY21 | 28% |
CY22 | 28% |
Overall | 32% |
Model-wise contribution
—In the Seltos, multiple automotive of each three vehicles offered is computerized,
—In the Sonet, multiple automotive of each 5 vehicles offered is computerized,
—In the Carens, nearly one automotive of each three vehicles offered is computerized.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”