Hyundai registers robust demand for second-gen diesel Creta

Hyundai Motor India (HMI), which introduced the second-generation Creta SUV in the Indian market earlier this year in March, is registering strong demand for the diesel powertrain in the new model.

The company is offering the Creta in 1.5-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel and a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine options, and says that so far the new BS VI-compliant diesel motor has outpaced the other two when it comes to the market pull.

According to a press statement issued by the Chennai-based OEM, 60 percent of the 55,000 bookings received for the new Creta comprise the diesel fuel option, which is offered with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

55,000 bookings in 4 months
Given that the coronavirus pandemic has cast its impact on the automotive sector with new car sales at an all-time low due to a decline in people's purchasing power and cutbacks on discretionary spends, especially big-ticket items like cars, the new Creta has still managed to excite the market still.

The new model has been riding on the credentials of its predecessor which was launched in July 2015. It became the segment leader in the mid-sized SUV space and clocked sales of 466,839 units in the domestic market until January 2020 before the second-generation model was unveiled at the Auto Expo in February.

Now, Hyundai has announced that it has received 55,000 new bookings for the crossover since March 2 when it commenced them, and has already delivered 20,000 of them in a little over four months since launch on March 16.

And, in a time of social distancing, Hyundai's digital 'Click To Buy' campaign seems to have clicked with consumers. The company also states that the Creta is the most researched car on its online retail platform with 30 percent buyers enquiring about the SUV and over 76 percent of bookings of the car coming online.

According to Tarun Garg, director, Sales, Marketing & Service, Hyundai Motor India, “Ever since its launch in 2015, the Creta has been a benchmark in the industry. With the launch of the all-new Creta in March 2020, Hyundai has once again redefined SUV leadership in the segment, recording over 55,000 bookings and more than 20,000 customers in just four months."

"This achievement stands testament to the new Creta’s superior looks, a feature-rich package and dominant performance that has won hearts across India, even during these trying times," Garg added.

While HMI had recorded total domestic sales of 21,320 units in June 2020, registering a 50 percent year-on-year de-growth, the accelerated pace that it is seeing for the new Creta is pushing it the company to ramp up production at its plants in Chennai and commence second-shift operations to cater to the growing demand.

Also, where the first-generation Creta was the king of the UV segment, and helped Hyundai clinch up to 20.86 percent of the UV market share in August 2019, it gradually felt the heat from sibling Kia Motor India's Seltos when Hyundai’s share dropped to 18.86 percent towards January 2020.

But now it looks the tide has turned towards the Creta. Hyundai Motor India, with sale of 15,840 units, was the best-selling UV manufuacturer in Q1 FY2021 and accounts for nearly a quarter (23.28%) of total UV industry sales of 68,025 units. Leading the charge for Hyundai is the new Creta with sales of 9,750 units, followed by the Venue with 4,846 units.

With this performance, Hyundai has increased its market share to 23.29% in Q1 FY2021, up from 19.60% a year ago, and good enough to take it ahead of UV market leader Maruti Suzuki India (Q1 FY2021: 13,400 units / 19.70%).