Every year, September marks the beginning of the festive season in India and with it the Indian passenger vehicle industry looks to cash in on the improved consumer sentiment and in general high demand. However, despite the reduced fuel prices, low inflation and the onset of the festive season, PV sales in September were largely capped due to slowing UV sales and the aftereffects of a deficient monsoon and in turn a slack rural market.

The country’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki did not seem deterred by the slow start to the festive season this year as it once again populated the top 10 PV sales list. The carmaker claimed 6 out of 10 spots in the list in September. The Alto hatchback continued its dominance as the single most sold car with sales of 20,658 units in the month and was No. 1.  Three of its siblings – the Dzire, Swift and Wagon R – follow with sales of 19,682, 18,278 and 14,912 units respectively.

The Celerio with sales of 8,901 units and the Omni with sales of 6,694 units also featured on the list, and together these six models comprise 89,125 units helping Maruti Suzuki cement its top carmaker spot.

Hyundai Motor India with its Elite i20 and Grand i10 hatchbacks captured the fifth and sixth spots on the list. The Elite i20 maintained its reputation as the most sold premium hatchback in the country with sales of 11,744 units. Hyundai’s strategy of providing handsome discounts and exchange offers benefitted the Grand i10, which followed suit with sales of 11,258 units.

Amidst a host of fresh launches that happened in the last two months, a few have managed to get the customers queuing up at showrooms. Among these is the Hyundai Creta that has caught the fancy of a lot of people with its image of a practical urban SUV. The Korean car-maker has got an overwhelming response for the Creta and has sold over 7,000 units of the SUV every month since its launch in late July. The Creta continued to be the most sold SUV in India for September as well with 7,256 units in the month and took the eighth spot in the list.

Surprising everyone with its re-entry in the top 10 was Honda Cars India’s Amaze, with sales of 6,577 units. The Amaze overtook the City and the new Jazz to be the company’s most sold car in the month.

With the Reserve Bank of India slashing interest rates (by 50 bps) and benign fuel prices, consumer demand is set to peak during the middle of the festive season in October and November and with debutants like the Renault Kwid, Ford Figo and the upcoming Maruti Baleno, it would be interesting to see if there are any new entrants in the list in the coming months.

Also read: India Sales Analysis - September '15