India June 2011: Toyota Etios breaks into Top 10

Toyota Etios

High fuel prices, rising interest rates and a strike in Maruti’s Manesar factory all contributed to a slow month in India. Maruti saw its sales drop 4% year-on-year, the first decline in two years, and the Maruti Alto is at its lowest in 12 months at 23,240 sales. However with 178,293 units sold since the start of 2011, it is still up a massive 45% over 2010.

The Maruti Wagon R reclaims a 2nd place it las held in February with 12,215 sales, adding up to 80,382 year-to-date (+16%). The Hyundai i10 is #3 at 10,969 units but stays #2 year-to-date at 80,936 (-1%). Hit by the strike, the Maruti Swift is down 2 spots to #4 at 9,468 units.

Mahindra Bolero

Very good month for the Tata Indica, back to a solid 5th place at 8,188 units, the Mahindra Bolero, possibly at its highest ever in India at a shiny 6th position, and the Hyundai i20, up to best-ever #7 for the second time of its career after November 2010.

The best performer of the month is the Toyota Etios, for the first time in the Indian Top 10 with 5,739 sales. The Sedan version is no less than the best-selling sedan in India this month, passing the 5,000 sales mark for the very first time at 5,002 units. Added to this is the first month of sales of the Hatchback version, named Etios Liva, delivering 737 units. As a result, Toyota sales in India are up 94% in May at 12,034 units.

Mahindra Verito

The Tata Nano is back to square one after a few good months with only 5,452 sales in May (-29%), its weakest month since its Nov 2010 low point of 507 units. Tata is down 21% this month. The Hyundai ‘Fluidic’ Verna confirms its success at #17 and the Mahindra Verito (aka Dacia Logan) breaks into the Top 30 for the first time with a best-ever 1,510 sales. As a whole, Mahindra is up 29% this month.

See the previous month May 2011 India post here.

Full June 2011 Top 40 Ranking Table below.