With monsoon sales at new high, car makers await a record festive season

Car makers have registered healthy sales through the monsoon, normally considered a low period, gearing them to turn confidently towards the upcoming festive season. Almost all leading manufacturers have reported an increase in sales figures.

Market leader Maruti Suzuki had a robust July, with total sales of 1.81 lakh units, up from 1.75 lakh in July last year. However, the lustre gets dimmed a little when you take into account just the domestic passenger vehicle sales, which witnessed only a marginal growth from 1.42 lakh to 1.52 lakh (and total domestic sales from 1.55 lakh to 1.59 lakh only).

However, Maruti would feel vindicated by the fact that its SUV strategy is finally showing results. Late to the utility vehicle party as it focussed too much on small cars even as rivals like Hyundai scored big time with SUVs, Maruti’s spate of launches over the past few months is showing results. The new models of Brezza and Grand Vitara, as well as new models unveiled at the Auto Expo—Fronx and Jimmy—have seen Maruti’s utility vehicle figures shooting up from 23,272 to a whopping 62,049 — a nearly three-fold increase.

Rivals like Tata Motors and Hyundai, too, have fared decently. Hyundai sold a total of 68,000 vehicles, of which 50,701 were domestic sales. Tata Motors sold more than 80,000 units, but when you take the commercial vehicles out, its domestic passenger vehicle sales come to 47,628 — a marginal increase from 47,505 last year in July.

Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India, said, “July 2023 marks a significant milestone in Hyundai Motor India’s journey in India. Our domestic July sales volume is backed by a strong SUV portfolio, bolstered by the addition of the Exter.”

Toyota recorded its highest wholesale numbers in July, selling nearly 22,000 units of its best-selling Innova and other models. “Given the mid-year sales trend and the favourable demand sentiments, coupled with our increase in production by adding a third shift operation, we are confident of recording one of our strongest years in the country,” said Atul Sood, vice president of sales, and strategic marketing at Toyota Kirloskar.

With Monsoon sales going strong, India’s auto industry is expectantly awaiting the start of the festive season, where sales could well break all records. “We are witnessing an overwhelming response,” said Toyota’s Atul Sood, adding, “We are also keenly looking forward to a good festive season and gearing up to meet the further surge in demand.

Added Hyundai’s Garg, “With the semiconductor supply issues more or less behind us, we are all geared up for the upcoming festive season in India starting with Onam in Kerala.”