INDIA SALES: Top 10 Passenger Vehicles – May 2017

The passenger vehicle (PV) segment is leading the charge for the Indian automobile industry and looks good to notch a new high in FY2017-18. This, coming on the back of record high sales of over 3 million PVs in FY2017, will be a big positive for industry.

As the sales numbers for the first two months of FY2018 reveal, the PV industry is in good nick. With a total of 529,259 units sold (+11.73%) in April and May 2017, expect sales to gather pace as the year drives along. Compared to April 2017 numbers, May 2017 PV sales, at 251,642 units (8.63%) are lower by 25,960 units but that could be because buyers are delaying purchases, awaiting some more clarity – and discounts – on GST, which comes into effect on July 1. As a result, expect June PV sales to also bear a similar impact.

Maruti’s stranglehold on the Top 10
As it did in April and before, Maruti Suzuki India maintains its stranglehold on the Top 10 best-selling PVs in the country. Of the total 130,847 PVs in the Top 10 list for May 2017, Maruti accounts for 98,819 units or 75 percent with seven of its models. Notably,  total sales of the Top 10 models – 130,847 – is a wee bit more than all of Maruti's sales in May 2017.  

In May, a month in which the company sold 130,248 units (+16.10%) in the domestic market, Maruti straddles the PV Top 10 with seven vehicles across categories – four hatchbacks, one SUV, one sedan and one MPV. A year ago too, it had seven but the Celerio has moved out and the Ertiga has driven into the Top 10. Also, every Maruti model in the Top 10 has found more buyers in May 2017 as compared to May 2016. Not surprisingly, the company has increased its overall domesticPV market share by 3.23 percent from 48.60 percent to 51.83 percent over a 12-month period.

Hyundai Motor India has taken three slots – No. 5, 7 and 9 – in May 2017 with its Grand i10, Elite i20 and the Creta SUV respectively. Clearly, these two carmakers, who account for 68.22 percent of the Indian PV market, leave very little room for other OEMs to muscle in.

The Top 10 PV list belongs to hatchbacks with only the Maruti Vitara Brezza, Ertiga and Hyundai Creta giving them company in May. The top four positions belong to the Alto (23,618 units), Swift (16,352 units), Wagon R (15,471 units) and the Baleno (14,629).

The entry level Alto, which was also the No. 1 car in May 2016 (19,874), has seen consistent demand over the past year and May was no different.

At No. 5 is the Hyundai Grand i10 with 12,984 units, the same as in May 2016. Its sibling, the Elite i20 is the seventh best-selling PV in May 2017 (10,667) but has dropped down one position from a year ago.

The Maruti Vitara Brezza takes sixth place with 12,375 units, rising impressively from 10^th position in May 2016. Interestingly, May 2017 sales are the best yet for Maruti’s first-ever compact SUV which was launched in February 2016. Till end-May the Brezza has sold a cumulative 137,231 units, proving how big a game-changer the vehicle is.

At No. 8 is the new Maruti Dzire with sales of 9,073 units. Considering the latest avatar of the popular was launched just a month ago, it makes for an impressive debut on the sales front. Expect the Dzire to gradually climb up the sales chart.

The Hyundai Creta drives in at No. 9 with 8,377 units. Like the Brezza has been for Maruti, the Creta is for the Korean carmaker drawing buyer in droves.

Wrapping up the Top 10 list for May 2017 is the Maruti Ertiga MPV with 7,121 units.

As a result of heavy pre-GST discounting, expect June numbers to see a spike. SUV sales though are likely to be muted compared to earlier months. With GST giving an around 6-7 percent relief to larger cars and SUVs, consumer demand for these vehicles should acclelerate, translating into an uptick in sales from July onwards.

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