India Full Year 2004: Maruti Alto challenges 800, leader for 20 years

The Maruti Alto, left, ends the year 20.000 sales below the 20 year leader, the Maruti 800, right.

* See the Top 23 All-brands and Top 80 All-models by clicking on the title *

The new vehicle market in India is expanding by leaps and bounds, up another 23.7% to annihilate the annual million units for the first time in the country’s history at 1.142.128, up 49% from just 768.801 two years ago in 2002. Once again Maruti (+22%) manages to salvage its market share at 42%, approaching the half-million units itself. Quite stunningly, the entire Top 8 brands post double-digit gains, starting with Tata (+27%), Hyundai (+16%), Mahindra (+22%) and Toyota (+20%). Chevrolet (+301%), Honda (+112%) and Ford (+42%) score the biggest improvements in the Top 10 while Hindustan (+4%) and Force Motors (+3%) are the weakest.

The models ranking is the theatre of a sudden and dramatic change: just as it celebrates 20 consecutive years of reign, the Maruti 800 (-22%) is tumbling down to its lowest share ever at 11.6% and is now threatened by the Maruti Alto (+166%) up to a record 112.000 sales and 9.7% share which benefits from a life-changing price drop. In fact, the Alto is already the best-seller in India over the 2nd Half of 2004, celebrating its first ever monthly win in May and holding onto the top spot without interruption from July onwards. The Hyundai Santro (+12%) and Tata Indica (+27%) are knocked down to #3 and #4, the Maruti Wagon R (+69%) is up one spot to #5 and the Maruti Zen (+9%) and Omni (+11%) both down two to #6 and #7, making it 5 Marutis in the Top 7 for the 2nd straight year – and ever. The Tata Indigo soars 41% to break into the Top 10 at #10. There are only two additional foreigners in the Top 15: the Toyota Qualis (+19%) and Honda City (+115%).

Previous year: India 2003: Maruti 800, Wagon R, Alto shine in record market (+20%)

Full Year 2004 Top 23 All-brands and Top 80 All-models below.