Maruti sales up 5.9% in domestic market

However, sale of mini-segment cars such as Maruti 800, Wagon R, Alto and others was lower by 15%

The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) today reported an increase of 6% selling 82,073 units last month, amid sluggish off-take of vehicles in the domestic market.

The company had sold 77,475 units in the same month in 2011. Though sales at the entry-level segment continued to sputter for the company due to weak demand for petro-powered cars, overall volumes rose on account of strong demand for mid-range vehicles - premium hatchback Swift, entry-level sedan DZire and new launch Ertiga. All these models are available in diesel options.

While sales of mini-segment cars, including M800, A-Star, Alto and WagonR, declined by 15.02% to 32,797 units during the month from 38,593 units in December previous year, volumes went up by 8.9% in the compact segment (Swift, Ritz and Estilo) to 22,482 units. Sales of sedan Swift DZire, too, increased by 42.30% to 13,076 units in December from 9,189 units in the same month previous year, the company said.

In the utility vehicle category, where the company had introduced war horse Ertiga earlier in April last year, volumes grew manifold to 5,447 units last month as against the paltry 238 units of the Gypsy and Grand Vitara the company had sold in December 2011.

Up the premium ladder, volume growth again registered a dip at MSIL. Maruti Suzuki's mid-sized sedan SX4’s sales dipped by 60.97% to 329 units last month from 843 units in December 2011. Luxury sedan Kizashi also witnessed a drop of 11.76% in sales at 45 units as against 51 units in the year-ago period, MSIL said.

The company is currently working on introducing a refurbished version of SX4 to spruce up consumer interest in the model. It has stopped imports of Kizashi and has said the car will be shipped into the country only upon prior orders.

Sales of Omni and Eeco, however, dipped marginally to 7,897 units from 7,908 units in December 2011.

The company’s exports, however, went down by 10.99% to 13,072 units last month from 14,686 units in the year-ago period. This dragged down overall numbers. Overall volumes (domestic and exports) for Maruti Suzuki increased by 3.24% to 95,145 units in December 2012. The company had sold 92,161 units in the same month previous year.