Alto tops the top 10 of 2011

The Maruti Alto continues to be India’s most popular car and the all-new Swift has shown much promise too. And Mahindra’s Bolero recorded its highest ever monthly tally in 2011.

It was a year in which SIAM lowered its sales forecast twice, which was unprecedented, and a raft of petrol price hikes and as well as interest hikes dampened consumer segment. However, several models scaled new peaks on the basis of their equity, mileage and above all, value to the consumer, influenced in part by the availability of a diesel model.

Maruti Suzuki, as usual, dominated the Top 10 roster with four models — Alto, WagonR, Swift and Dzire — making the grade month after month. The individual numbers totted up by each brand may well have been higher had the strike at Maruti and one key supplier not affected sales during October. The strike had its most devastating impact on the Swift, which didn’t quite achieve its potential in the year. However, its sales performance in the last two months of 2011 is indicative of the fact that Maruti has a winner on its hands. And in January 2012, the popular hatchback sold 18,756 units.

The Alto has confirmed its position has the choice of a first car for middle-class India. With 311,367 units sold and only a blip during the strike, the car powered by a fuel-efficient K 10 is a Top 10 perennial.

For Hyundai Motor India, which always had the trio of the Santro, i10 and i20 in the Top 10, there’s been a change with Santro falling off the Top 10 due to the Eon that HMIL launched just before Diwali. The car figured for a few months in the Top 10 but has not, for now. Sales which have even topped the 7,000-mark have fallen to between 3,000-4,000 units a month. The i20 has also been a top grosser for Hyundai indicating that this spacious, feature-rich premium compact is good value for money.

Towards the end of 2011, sales of the Tata Nano which scored 10,000 units in April, began to look up figuring in the Top 10 in some months and boosting Tata Motors’ monthly tally.

One consistent player in the Top 10 has been the Bolero which recorded its highest sales ever in September and is the best news for Mahindra & Mahindra even as the XUV500 continues to bring in record bookings. The Bolero is the only UV in the Top 10 and nothing seems likely to dislodge it from there for now.