In January last year, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) sold 42,002 units locally and exported 10,000 units to markets outside India. That got the total to 52,002. The numbers, in the same order, for January 2021 are 52,005 and 8,100. Sum them up, and the result is 60,105. Some more math reveals that HMIL recorded a growth of 23.8 per cent in domestic sales and 15.6 per cent overall. As for the exports, they went down by 19 per cent.

Let’s not forget that India still has restrictions, especially concerning overseas movement, due to the ongoing pandemic. That holds for recipient countries as well. Once things normalize, the export numbers will start to move in the right direction. At least that’s what HMIL would be hoping for.

Here’s what Tarun Garg, who is the director of sales, marketing and service at HMIL, said in an official release:

HMIL has made a strong beginning to the CY21 by registering a high double digit growth in the month of January. The growth momentum has been achieved on account of great customer pull for our most innovative recently launched products like the all-new Creta, new Verna and the all-new i20 showcasing brand supremacy in their respective segments. We are happy to see that the Hyundai Brand in India has become a strong expression of world class technology and services thereby redefining the driving and ownership experience for our beloved customers. We stand committed to further strengthen India’s economy and society as a responsible corporate citizen.

Part of the exports came from Hyundai’s first-ever shipment via railways. A batch of 125 cars left for Nepal. The company expected to reduce the overall on-road movement of cargo from 8 to 5 days. That, in turn, would have had a positive impact on the carbon footprint within cities. HMIL caters to several markets around the world, including Latin America, Africa and South-East Asia.