India Full Year 2002: Fiat up to #5, Maruti 800, Hyundai Santro, Tata Indica lead

The Tata Indica is up to 9.6% share in India four years after launch.

* See the Top 17 All-brands and Top 60 All-models by clicking on the title *

After a 3% drop in 2001, the Indian new car market is back on its record run in 2002 thanks to a 5.4% year-on-year uptick to an all-time high 768.801 units. Maruti on the other hand persists in going against the market, this time with a 5% drop leading to a share thawing by 4.6 percentage points to 42.9%. Tata (+23%) and Hyundai (+24%) evolve almost identically – and beautifully – at almost 5 times the market growth’s rate to camp on their #2 and #3 respective spots, with the Korean manufacturer becoming the third brand to ever sell in the six digits in India. Mahindra (+9%) cements its 4th place just as Fiat (+138%) more than doubles its sales to crack the Indian Top 5 for the first time in the brand’s history. Toyota (-10%) is dislodged from the Top 5 as a result while Hindustan (+6%) follows the market at #7 with a weak 2.2% share.

The Fiat Palio ends its first full year of sales in India inside the Top 10.

When the 800 sneezes, Maruti gets a cold and this is true again this year with the Maruti 800 down 8% to fall to its lowest share yet at 17.9%, the main force in pulling the brand down. In contrast, the Hyundai Santro (+22%) and Tata Indica (+39%), the two star nameplates launched in 1998, both post extravagant gains to frankly break their share records at 10.5% and 9.6% respectively. As a result the Maruti Zen (-0.1%) and Omni (-12%) get knocked down one spot to #4 and #5. Unexpectedly, the Maruti Alto (-16%) which seemed to be headed straight towards the podium, is cut in its progression whereas the Maruti Wagon R (+37%) breaks into the Top 10 at #7. The Fiat Palio (+251%) justifies the Italian brand’s 5th place by breaking into the Top 10.

Previous year: India 2001: Maruti 800 and Hyundai Santro up, top market down 3.1%

Full Year 2002 Top 17 All-brands and Top 60 All-models below.