Auto sector faces short-term challenges, recovery likely by March: Sunil Subramaniam

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

«I think that overall conditions should favour this and then March is usually a season when auto sales pick up because it is the year end clearance and all that. So, all of this excess backlog will probably get cleared at that time. So, I expect this weakness to be there for the next month or so,» says Sunil Subramaniam, Market Expert.

So, firstly to start off with the auto sector. Now, we all knew that December is the month when discounts will come in from auto companies to boost their sales, but how long do you see the weakness that we are seeing in the auto space right now also because of a high base will continue going forward. For how long do you expect that to happen?
Sunil Subramaniam: I think it will last till the middle of February, I do not see a quick turn on that because one of the things which is hurting and these are the bottom of the pyramid in the auto segment, two wheelers are the lowest priced vehicles and that is where the inflation has been hurting the consumer and hence demand at the bottom of the pyramid has been weak and I think until the monsoon forecast actually translates into lower vegetable and food prices and inflation eases.

Second is that an RBI rate cut does not look likely in December, so Feb policy maybe you will see a rate cut. So, I think that overall conditions should favour this and then March is usually a season when auto sales pick up because it is the year end clearance and all that. So, all of this excess backlog will probably get cleared at that time. So, I expect this