India September 2017: Maruti DZire triumphs, market crosses 300.000 units

A record 34.305 DZire were delivered to dealerships this month in India.

* See the Top 23 brands and Top 90 models by clicking on the title *

The Indian new car market has stepped up to another level over the past few months: at 307.511 units, September marks the first month in Indian history above 300.000 units and the second all-time record volume broken in the past three months. In fact, the last three months of car (whole)sales are the three largest in Indian history. Sales are up 11% year-on-year for the month and 10% year-to-date to a record 2.421.038. For market leader Maruti Suzuki, it’s the third consecutive month above 150.000 monthly sales whereas this never happened before last July. #2 Hyundai, for its part, is up 17% year-on-year to break the 50.000 monthly sales barrier for the very first time, its previous personal best being 49.816 in October 2016. Below, Mahindra, Honda (both at +21%), Tata (+18%) and Volkswagen (+17%) all outpace the market but Toyota (+2%), Renault (-10%), Ford (-3%) and Datsun (-3%) trail it. Jeep improves further to 2.151 Compass units, Skoda (+42%) and Nissan (+15%) post solid scores while the rest of the brands are all in negative.

The Tata Nexon lands inside the Indian Top 30 for September.

Model-wise, just one month after breaking the 30.000 monthly sales barrier for the first time and becoming only the second nameplate in Indian history to do so, the Maruti DZire smashes this record again to lift it to 34.305, up 81% on the previous model a year ago. This lifts its advantage over the decade-long #1, the Maruti Alto, to more than 10.000 units for September. The Alto however remains comfortably in the 2017 YTD lead with 193.773 units (+4%) vs. 160.796 for the Dzire, now back into positive territory at +5%. The Maruti Baleno is up 53% to remain in third place and now ranks 4th year-to-date, passing the Maruti Wagon R. The Maruti Vitara Brezza for its part remains the best-selling SUV in the country with a 42% year-on-year surge allowing it to step up to #7 YTD above the Hyundai Elite i20. Mahindra impresses with the Bolero up 51% to #11 and the Scorpio up 60% to #16, its oldest nameplates once again the best performers. The Tata Tiago has found its mojo: now up 82% year-on-year to a third volume record in a row at 8.316 (in contrast the Nano, Indica and Indigo have imploded to between 77 and 129 sales) and the new Nexon SUV lands directly inside the Top 30.

Previous month: India August 2017: DZire 2nd nameplate above 30.000 monthly sales

One year ago: India September 2016: Maruti breaks record in market up 20%

Full September 2017 Top 23 brands and Top 90 models below.