The market mover is back in form and how. In what spells good news for a beleagured industry, Maruti Suzuki India, the passenger vehicle market leader, has reported strong sales of 113,033 units, up 21.3% year on year (August 2019: 93,173). All its vehicle segments, other than the Ciaz premium sedan, have notched smart increases.

The Alto and S-Presso sold 19,709 units, which is 94.7% YoY growth (August 2019: 10,123), indicative of the fact that demand has returned for these entry level hatchbacks.

The six-car pack of the Wagon R, Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire have cumulatively sold 61,956 units, up 14.2% YoY ((August 2019: 54,274). 

The Ciaz with 1,223 units is the sole segment to be down, by 23.4% (August 2019: 1,596).

The utility vehicle segment, a market which is seeing plenty of action, sees Maruti Suzuki post good numbers. The quintet of the Gypsy, Ertiga, S-Cross, Vitara Brezza and XL61 sold 21,030 units, up 13.5% (August 2019: 18,522).

What’s more, the two vans – Eeco and Omni – with sales of 9,115 units, are up 5.3% (August 2019: 8,658).

This performance, even as the country’s economy recorded its steepest decline (GDP down 23.9% in April-June 2020 as compared to 3.1% growth a year ago), is a laudable one.  Also, with the festive season not too far away and the rural markets back in the reckoning, expect Maruti Suzuki, which has moved on to fully petrol power, to maintain a good sales momentum in the rest of the fiscal.