India April 2019: Honda (+23.3%) stays afloat in steepest market loss in over 6 years (-16.4%)

The Amaze adds almost 6.000 units to Honda’s volume year-on-year.

The bad news keep piling up for Indian wholesales with April marking the 8th year-on-year drop in the past 10 months and the steepest so far at a scary -16.4% to 248.717 units, leading to a year-to-date tally now down -5.4% to 1.091.279. This is the first double-digit drop since June 2017 and the biggest fall since February 2013 (-17.6%). Political uncertainty, poor consumer confidence and slowing growth upcountry markets due to below-par Monsoon forecasts have played a role in this very rare counter-performance in India. Maruti (-19.6%) painfully falls even faster than the market but remains ultra-dominant at 52.8% share, while on the podium Hyundai (-10.1%) and Mahindra (-5.7%) resist much better. In fact there is only one Top 10 carmaker in positive this month: Honda (+23.3%) while some premium manufacturers such as Jaguar Land Rover (+127.3%), Mini (-71.4%), Volvo (+45.7%) and Mercedes (+35.8%) are estimated to also gain ground. Datsun (-46.3%), Jeep (-36.9%), Volkswagen (-35.8%), Nissan (-27.8%), Tata (-26.3%) and Toyota (-22.4%) implode while Ford (-12.3%) and Renault (-15.7%) slightly improve their market share.

Model-wise, the Maruti Alto (+7.2%) brilliantly posts a gain to reclaim the top spot for the 4th time in the past 5 months, whereas its immediate followers the Maruti Dzire (-28.5%), Baleno (-15%) and Swift (-30.7%) all fall apart. The Maruti Vitara Brezza (+8.9%) and Hyundai Creta (+11.7%) confirm the SUV fashion hasn’t left India just yet while the antediluvian Maruti Eeco (+37.2%) surprises with the largest gain in the Top 10. Just outside, the Maruti Ertiga (+42.2%) confirms the facelifts has gotten a lot of fans, the Mahindra XUV300 is back inside the Top 20 for the 2nd time in its 3 month-career, with other newcomers Tata Harrier and Mahindra Marazzo at the tail end of the Top 30. This month, even though its launch isn’t scheduled until early June we welcome at #51 the Toyota Glanza which is none other than a rebadged Suzuki Baleno.

Previous month: India March 2019: Honda (+26.7%), Mahindra (+8%) impress in 7th market drop in past 9 months

One year ago: India April 2018: Maruti breaks volume and share records at 55%

Full April 2019 Top 22 All-brands and Top 90 models below.