India 6 months 2012: Maruti Swift, DZire and Hyundai Eon on fire

The Hyundai Eon is the best-selling all-new model over the period.

* See the Top 50 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

After Brazil and France, India is the third of the Top 10 biggest worldwide car markets we explore in further detail halfway through the year. Sometimes it takes a step back and a bit of perspective to realise what longer-term trends are at stake. The Indian models ranking is normally a very stable affair but in 2012 the top of the ranking was completely reshuffled. In a market up a very healthy 14% year-on-year to 1,414,027 registrations, the Maruti Alto is down 10% to 161,330 sales and, while still keeping the pole position, sees its market share drop from 14.1% one year ago to 11.4%. This evolution has been put under the spotlight in May when the Alto lost the first place for the first time in 7 years to the Maruti Swift.

Chevrolet Beat sales are up 82% year-on-year.

Boosted by their facelift, the Maruti Swift and DZire deliver indeed the most impressive performances in the Top 10 and by far, both up 2 spots at +71% to #2 for the Swift and +59% to #3 for the DZire. Below the Maruti Wagon R at #4 and -13%, the Mahindra Bolero holds itself extremely well, up 2 spots and 18% to #5. The Hyundai Eon is the best performing all-new model over the period, landing directly at #6 with 52,761 sales, just above the car it replaces, the Hyundai i10 logically down 35% to #6. In spite of its much publicised relaunch, the Tata Nano is stable year-on-year at #9 with sales up 9% to 49,555.

Mahindra XUV500

The Toyota Innova has enjoyed the benefits of a successful facelift as well, up 58% and 4 spots to #12, as has the Hyundai Verna but in a more striking manner: it is up 120% and 13 ranks to #16 with 30,532 sales. Excellent performance also for the Chevrolet Beat, up 82% to #17 while the Toyota Etios maintains itself within the Indian Top 20 at #19 with 26,334 units, up 27%. Other noticeable newcomers in the ranking include the Maruti Ertiga at #23, the Mahindra XUV500 at #25, the Nissan Sunny at #27, the Honda Brio at #29 and the Skoda Rapid at #32.

Previous post: India June 2012: Toyota Innova and Hyundai i20 at their best

One year ago: India June 2011: Toyota Etios breaks into Top 10

Full 6 months 2012 Top 50 Ranking Table below.