India First Half 2017: Top Five is 100% Maruti in record market up 8%

The Baleno makes it five Marutis in the Top Five so far in 2017. 

* See the Top 22 All-brands and Top 100 models by clicking on the title *

Despite a GST-related hiccup in June (-11%), the India new light vehicle market gallops ahead over the First Half of 2017 with a solid 8% year-on-year improvement to a record 1.524.631 units. Maruti Suzuki almost double the market growth with a 14% gain to an all-time high 49.2% market share, having crossed the symbolic 50% share barrier three times over the period: in January (50.5%), April and May (both at 52%). That Maruti is able to improve on an already ultra-dominant market share is testimony to its excellence at filling every niche of the market, including the successful launch of the new premium Nexa channel distributing the very successful Baleno. Below, Hyundai (+4%) and Mahindra (-7%) fail to match the market growth while Honda (+10%) and Tata (+22%) beat it. Toyota is up 1% to 6th place whereas Renault drops two spots to fall to #7 due to sales down 8% as the Kwid’s honeymoon period is over. Ford (+9%), Volkswagen (+14%), Datsun (+47%) and Skoda (+15%) all improve their market shares compared to a year ago.

The Maruti Vitara Brezza is now India’s best-selling SUV.

The new generation Maruti DZire sedan is available in India well before the Swift hatch.

The Maruti Alto continues to reign supreme over the Indian models ranking even though it trails the market growth at +5% to just over 122.000 units. The rest of the Top 10 is drastically reshuffled, with Maruti trusting the Top 5 for the first time in history. The Swift leaps up 14% from #4 to #2 even though the new generation of the model isn’t available yet in India, the Wagon R stays at #3, the DZire is down 18% to #4 just as the new generation launches and the more premium Baleno is up 60% to break into the YTD Top 5 in 5th place. As a result, the Hyundai Grand i10 and Elite i20 are relegated to #6 and #7 respectively, despite improve by 20% and 12%. It has taken just over a year for the Maruti Vitara Brezza to impose itself as the favourite SUV in India, up 11 spots to #8 and breaking its volume record three times this year. It distances the Hyundai Creta (+12%) by almost 10.000 units. Note the Top 10 models are only composed of Marutis and Hyundais.

The Maruti Ignis is the most popular newcomer in India, just above the Honda WR-V. 

The Renault Kwid (-2%) slips out of the Top 10 in 11th place, whereas the Mahindra Bolero (+22%) and Maruti Ertiga (+21%) post solid gains. Just over one year-old, the Tata Tiago settles in the Indian Top 20m becoming and by far the brand’s best-seller at home. The most popular newcomer in the ranking is the Maruti Ignis. landing at #21 with a little over 27.000 sales, peaking at #19 in March. That’s one spot down on the Honda WR-V’s best ranking of #18 reached in June. For now, the WR-V places 26th so far in 2017 but has cannibalised the Jazz it now outsells (-19%). The Tata Tigor (#35), VW Ameo (#39), Tata Hexa (#42), Hyundai Tucson (#73), Ford Mustang (#82) and VW Tiguan (#83) are the other newcomers in the Indian sales charts halfway through 2017.

Previous post: India June 2017: GST price drop anticipation sinks market down 11%

One year ago: India First Half 2016: Renault Kwid instant blockbuster, hurts Maruti Alto

Full H1 2017 Top 22 All-brands and Top 100 models vs. Full H1 2016 figures below.