The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki reported a growth of 21.3% to sell 113,033 passenger vehicles in the market in August.
The company had sold 93,173 units in the year-ago period. While sales of mini cars Alto and S-Presso rose 94.7% at 19,709 units, those of compact cars (Swift, DZire, Tour S, Baleno, Celerio, Ignis, WagonR) increased 14.2% to 61,956 units. Sales of midsize sedan Ciaz though fell 23.4% to 1,223 units in the month under review.
Wholesale volumes in the utility vehicle segment (Ertiga, XL6, Vitara Brezza, S-Cross) rose 13.5% to 21,030 units. The company sold 2,294 units of light commercial vehicle Super Carry last month, which is an increase of 47.4% over 1,555 units sold in August 2019. Maruti Suzuki’s exports fell 15.3% to 7,920 units in August.
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd and Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the top two carmakers, recorded robust sales last month. Sport-utility vehicle maker Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M&M) published a marginal rise but Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd saw a decrease. Kia Motors India Pvt. Ltd and MG Motor India Pvt. Ltd—the most recent entrants in India’s car dealers—reported large growth. Overall, these companies recorded a 17% boom in sales in August. The sales report is counted as factory dispatches to sellers and not retail sales.
To be sure, the growth comes on a low base of the preceding year while the industry became undergoing an uncertain phase as customers deferred purchases anticipating a reduction in vehicle taxes, as well as higher fuel costs and insurance payments, while carmakers adjusted production as they grappled with new norms.
Maruti’s sales in August were driven by a 27% y-o-y increase in sales of compact cars at 81,665 units. Its utility vehicle sales grew 13.5% to 21,030 units.
The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki Tuesday reported a growth of 21.3% to sell 113,033 passenger vehicles in the local market in August. The firm had sold 93,173 units in the year-ago period. Total domestic passenger vehicle sales at Maruti Suzuki, India’s largest carmaker, jumped 21% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 113,033 units. This is a growth from the 100,000 and 51,274 vehicles sold in July and June.
