Maruti sales zoom in July to cross 100,000 units

Hyundai pips Tata Motors to regain Number 2 spot.

Riding high on the back of new launches, Maruti Suzuki, the country's largest car manufacturer, has again crossed the 100,000 sales mark in a month, while also recording its highest-ever domestic sales in July.

It saw total sales (domestic and exports) of 100,857 units during the month, a growth of 29 per cent over the 78,074 units sold during the same month last year. It sold 90,114 units in the domestic market in July, helped by new launches such as the updated WagonR and the Eeco, and continued upbeat demand for the Swift, DZire and Ritz outstripping supply.

Maruti had sold 67,528 units in the domestic market last July. Its previous best performance in the domestic market came in May, when it sold 90,041 units (with exports, the total was also over 100,000).
 

IN TOP GEAR
Company	July ‘09	July ‘10
Maruti	67,528	90,114
Hyundai	23,193	28811
Honda	4,857	4685
Mahindra	16,688	16720
MRPL	444	752
All figures are for domestic sales

Shashank Srivastava, chief general manager (marketing), said: “The sales momentum can be kept up in the coming months, especially now that market sentiments are looking very positive. In addition, the monsoon has been very good. The only point of worry is the inflation levels.”

The company, which had spooked investors last month when it showed higher than expected royalty payout to parent Suzuki over technology transfer, is now gearing up to launch a new variant of the Alto hatchback on Wednesday, which will sport a more powerful engine.

Analysts are expecting the buoyant sales trend to continue for Maruti in the coming months, given its strong product plans and the coming festive season.

Hyundai surge, too
Meanwhile, Korean car brand Hyundai Motors regained the number two spot in July, which it had lost to Tata Motors, as increased dispatches of the Verna Transform and sustained demand for the i10 and i20 models pushed overall numbers.

The company sold 28,811 units in the domestic market, an increase of 24 per cent over the 23,193 units sold in the same month last year.

Tata Motors, India's biggest auto company (by revenue) had trounced Hyundai for the second spot in June by a small margin, on the back of higher dispatches of the Nano. Tata Motors’ domestic sales for July was 27,864 units.

Arvind Saxena, Director, Marketing and Sales, Hyundai Motor India, said: “The increased demand clearly shows that the recently launched Verna Transform has been well received. The market continues to be positive and in the next quarter, we expect the trend to continue, with the onset of the festive season.”

Sales of Mahindra & Mahindra, India's biggest maker of utility vehicles, were flat at 16,720 units, growth of 0.19 per cent during July, as compared to 16,688 units sold in the corresponding month a year earlier.

The company sells the Scorpio, Xylo and Bolero, among other vehicles, including pick-ups, under the utility vehicle category. M&M has been facing shortage in parts supply, such as that for tyres, which had impacted production.

Sales of the Logan sedan showed an uptick for the third continuous month, selling 752 units of the car as compared to 444 units in the same month last year.

M&M had bought Renault's 49 per cent stake in the troubled joint venture company, Mahindra Renault, a few months earlier.

Meanwhile, sales of Honda Siel Cars India declined by 3.5 per cent during the reporting month, at 4,685 units as against 4,857 units. The company's Civic and Jazz models have been under pressure for some time, due to increased competition.

Maruti raises prices by Rs 2,000-7,500

Maruti Suzuki, the country’s biggest car maker, has raised prices across models by Rs 2,000-7,500, with immediate effect. The increase, which had been brought about due to rise in input costs, would be seen across all models, except the Alto, stated the company.