India Full Year 1997: Maruti up to record 55.1% share, 800 and Zen on podium

The Maruti Zen post its first podium finish in India.

* See the Top 14 All-brands and Top 35 All-models by clicking on the title *

New vehicle sales in India edge up 5.5% year-on-year to break a new volume record at 586.349 units. Maruti (+11%) once again outpaces the market to hit a new all-time high 55.1% share, crossing the 300.000 annual sales milestone for the first time in history. Note Maruti is the only brand to have sold more than 100.000 units annually in India according to BSCB records. In contrast, all of Maruti’s Indian competitors lose market share this year: Tata (-1%) and Mahindra (+2%) on the podium, Hindustan (-1%), Force Motors (-29%) and Premier (-2%) in the Top 6. Even the best-selling foreign brand, Daewoo (-48%) is in dire straits, losing almost half of its 1996 sales and dropping to #7. But most other foreigners post a stellar year, led by Ford (+678%), Fiat (+636%) and Opel (+154%). As a result foreign brands (+21%) improve their share from 5.3% in 1996 to 6.1% this year.

The Mahindra Jeep is #2 in India for the 6th consecutive year.

The Maruti 800 (+3%) remains undisturbed atop the models ranking with 31.3% share, as is the Mahindra Jeep (+1%) in 2nd place with 11.2% of the market. After breaking into the Top 5 last year, the Maruti Zen (+60%) continues its ascension, leaping onto the 1997 podium while the Maruti Omnivan (+26%) and Tata Sumo (+33%) also vastly outpace their home market. The legendary Hindustan Ambassador (-1%) manages to edge up one spot to #7, taking advantage of the Maruti Esteem’s freefalling (-27%). The Daewo Cielo (-46%) implodes but remains the best-selling foreigner at #9 for just 24 sales above the Opel Astra (+154%) brilliantly breaking into the overall Top 10. The Ford Escort (+678%), Fiat Uno (+636%) and Peugeot 309 (+7%) are the only other foreigners in the Top 25.

Previous year: India 1996: Maruti (52.5%) and Maruti 800 (32.1%) at record highs, foreigners land

Full Year 1997 Top 14 All-brands and Top 35 All-models below.