The country’s largest carmaker has announced domestic market passenger vehicle sales of 139,189 units, which is a 4.1 percent growth over the previous year (January 2017: 133,768). Cumulative sales for the first 10 months of FY2018 are 1,195,347 units, which marks 13.7 percent year-on-year growth. Having sold a total of 1,443,641 units in FY2017, the company could be in line for the 1.5 million sales mark this fiscal. Right now, it is 248,294 PVs short of the milestone. Given the sales trend, it should drive past this number with ease in the next two months.  

The entry level duo of the Alto and Wagon R hatchbacks sold a total of 33,316 units last month, down 12.2 percent, indicating demand is shifting to other company models. Acting as a strong buffer is the quintet of compact cars (Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire) and utility vehicles (Gypsy, Ertiga, S-Cross and Vitara Brezza) which continue to beef up overall numbers.

At 67,868 units sold (January 2016: 55,817), the five compact cars posted strong 21.6 percent. Now, with the new Swift soon to be launched, expect this segment to see a surge in demand. Maruti UVs, due to the continuing demand for the Vitara Brezza, sold 20,693 units, up 26.8 percent (January 2017: 16,313).

Sales of the premium Ciaz sedan continue to see a decline and in January, the car sold a total of 5,062 units, down 22.5 percent (January 2017: 6,530).

The two ubiquitous Maruti vans, the Omni and the Eeco together sold 12,250 units, down 13.6 percent (January 2017: 14,179).