Auto parts sector to grow faster than auto industry: Icra

India's auto component industry is expected to grow by up to 10 per cent in the current fiscal on the back of sales growth in passenger vehicles and motorcycles, rating agency Icra said on Friday.

Icra expects the auto component industry to gain momentum and register growth of 8.5-10 per cent in the current fiscal as against 2.8 per cent growth in the last fiscal, the rating agency said in its quarterly note on the auto component sector.

Over the medium to long term, growth in the auto component industry will be higher than the underlying automotive industry growth, given the increasing localisation by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), higher component content per vehicle and rising exports from India, it added.

"In Icra's views, implementation of the 7th Pay Commission awards is expected to support urban / semi-urban segments like PV and scooter, whereas rural demand will be driven by expected above-average monsoon," it said.

In exports, robust demand for passenger vehicles in North America as well as Europe is likely to offset expected decline in the medium and heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCV) segment in those markets, Icra said.

"Relatively better original equipment (OE) and exports demand, coupled with stable aftermarket demand, is likely to drive overall auto component industry growth," Icra senior vice president and cCo-head corporate sector ratings Subrata Ray said.

 The rating agency said that given subdued demand and surplus capacities, the industry has been in a consolidation mode over the last two years and taking steps towards deleveraging balance sheets.

''Companies are focusing towards higher value-added products, which provide a cushion to the overall profitability during a downturn and also insulate them from cut-throat competition in the commoditised segments," Icra said.