India's retail car sales hit record in April, but Mideast crisis clouds outlook

India's auto dealerships are bracing for potential ripple effects from the ongoing Middle East conflict on fuel prices and supply chains, a senior industry official said on Tuesday, after retail vehicle sales hit a record for April.

Disruptions linked to the conflict have been limited so far in the world's third-largest car market, but could start affecting auto part supplies over the coming months if the instability persists, Sai Giridhar, vice president of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations, said in an interview.

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"There have been some instances of supply getting disrupted, particularly in parts shipments coming from Europe, mainly in the after-market and service side," Giridhar said.

While the impact is not broad-based, the repercussions could last for a few months even if the conflict were to end, he said.

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The comments reflect wider concerns about a prolonged Iran war and the consequent energy shock hitting growth and raising inflation in the world's most populous country. Industry leader Maruti Suzuki has warned it could raise prices as the war pushes up commodity costs.

India's auto sector has been in a good spot over the last few months, as last September's tax cuts have made cars more affordable, with easier financing conditions and strong demand from towns and rural areas.

However, margins are likely to come under pressure, analysts have said, as rising steel, aluminium and freight costs tied to the war hit the bottomline.

For now, a potential sharp rise in fuel prices remains a key risk for consumer sentiment, Giridhar said.

Indian state refiners have raised prices of liquefied petroleum gas for industrial customers and jet fuel sold to foreign carriers, but prices of gasoline, diesel and cooking gas have not been raised for domestic customers.

Overall retail vehicle sales in April rose 12.9% year-over-year to a record high of 2.6 million units for that month, data released by the auto body showed.

Car sales in rural India jumped 20.4%, nearly three times the urban growth of 7.1%, driven in part by a revival in small-car sales.