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December 06, 2008 15:08 IST
Reeling under pressure from a slowdown in the country's auto market, homegrown major Mahindra & Mahindra said on Friday it will shut down its five manufacturing plants, which produces cars, utility and commercial vehicles, for 3-6 days this month. "The manufacturing plants of the automotive sector (Nasik, Kandivli, Igatpuri, Zaheerabad and Haridwar) will work partially during the month," M&M said in a communique to the Bombay Stock Exchange. Most of these plants would be shut down for around three to six days depending on the market demand of the products manufactured in the respective plants, it added. "Taking into account the slowdown in demand for the company's products, it has been decided to align the company's production plan with the expected demand for the month of December, 2008," M&M said. The company's announcement comes days after its president (automotive sector) Pawan Goenka stating that production would always be as per sales and it would not over-produce unnecessarily to build up inventories at its facilities as well as with the dealers. Goenka had said along with domestic market, exports were facing slowdown in each country where M&M was present. M&M said the ongoing economic slowdown in the automotive industry was mainly on account of inadequate funding and high interest cost.
The company's domestic sales in November were down by 41.55 per cent at 10,430 units compared to 17,844 units last year. Falling sales in the domestic market had forced other firms such as Tata Motors [Get Quote] and Ashok Leyland [Get Quote] to take similar measures. Tata Motors undertook block closure of its plants in Jamshedpur (thrice), Pune (twice) and Lucknow (once) in November and December, while Ashok Leyland said it would work three-day week at its manufacturing units till the end of this month. Another automaker VE Commercial Vehicles had also reduced its productions in line with demand.
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