Passenger vehicle market leader Maruti Suzuki India has announced domestic market sales sales of 160,226 units in December 2020. This is a growth of 14.6% over December 2019 (122,784). It also sold 3,808 units to Toyota Kirloskar Motor, which constitutes the Glanza and Urban Cruiser.

With total sales of 495,897 units in Q3 (FY2020-21), the company has registered a growth of 13.4% over the same period in the previous year.

What spells good news for the carmaker is that demand for the entry level hatchback duo of the Alto and S-Presso is back after a few months of decline. At 24,927 units in December 2020, sales were up 4.4% YoY (December 2019: 23,883). Clearly, demand from town and country is returning to the market.

The big gains have come in the six-car pack of the Wagon R, Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire. Altogether they have sold a total of 77,641 units, which marks smart YoY growth of 18.2% (December 2019: 65,673).

The premium Ciaz sedan continues to be a worry for Maruti Suzuki. At 1,270 units last month, sales were down a substantial 29% (December 2019:  1,786). The Ciaz had sold 1,870 units in November, down 1,422 in October, 1,534 in September and 1,223 in August.

The utility vehicle segment, a market which is seeing massive competition as well as a continued wave of demand, sees Maruti Suzuki notch decent growth. The quintet of the Gypsy, Ertiga, S-Cross, Vitara Brezza and XL6 sold total of 25,701 units, up 8% YoY (December 2019: 23,808) and bettering November’s 23,753 units.

The two vans – Eeco and Omni – are seeing robust demand – they sold 11,215 units in December 2020, up 47% YoY (December 2019: 7,634)