India September 2019: MG in Top 10, Kia Seltos #11, Maruti S-Presso lands in market down -22.9%

Over 5.000 Maruti S-Presso have found their way to dealerships in September.

At -22.9% year-on-year to 224.989 units, Indian wholesales manage a slightly better result than in August (-30.6%) but with a 6th consecutive double-digit drop and the lowest September score since 2014 they are still in a deep rut. The Indian government is trying the smooth out this dire situation by planning a new scrappage scheme of vehicles older than 15 years through an amendment to Motor vehicle norms proposed last July… For now the market is down -15.9% over the first 9 months of 2019 to 2.178.800 units, the weakest result at this stage of the year since 2015 (1.994.176). However there are quite a few success stories that stand out in this depressed context as we’ll see further down. Maruti (-27.1%) falls faster than the market despite two significant launches (S-Presso and XL6) and remains below the symbolic 50% market share for the 4th consecutive month at 49.1%. The Top 5 brands follow the same order as in August and all endure double-digit falls: Hyundai (-14.8%) and Toyota (-18.5%) resist better but Honda (-37.4%) and Mahindra (-29.9%) fall apart.

The Kia Seltos misses out on a first ever Top 10 finish by just 188 units.

Thanks to the launch of the Triber MPV, up 89% on its inaugural month and now its most popular model in India with 56% of its September volume, Renault surges 29.7% year-on-year and two spots on last month to #6, overtaking Tata (-56.1%). Although dropping one spot to #8, Kia, thanks to its sole nameplate the new Seltos, is up 24.3% on August to a fantastic 7.754 sales and 3.4% share, seemingly taking the same extraordinary route as sister brand Hyundai who only needed 1.5 year to rank #3 annually after a September 1998 launch… Finally Chinese carmaker and newly local producer MG breaks into the Indian Top 10 brands for the first time thanks to wholesales of its Hector SUV up 29.2% on August to a record 2.608.

The Triber accounts for a whopping 56% of Renault sales this month.

Which brings us to the models ranking where the Maruti DZire (-26.5%) holds onto the top spot for the 2nd month in a row and the third time this year after last March, but can’t tease the Maruti Alto (-30.6%) year-to-date as over 13.000 units separate the two nameplates so far in 2019. The Swift (-41.8%), Wagon R (-11.3%), Baleno (-38.7%) and Vitara Brezza (-28.2%) ensure the Top 6 is 100% Maruti as it is the case YTD, the Vitara Brezza reclaiming the title of #1 SUV in China off the Hyundai Venue (#10) in the process. With the Hyundai Elite i20 (-18.1%) and Grand i10 (-16.6%) as well as the Maruti Eeco (+35.3%) also making it into the Top 10, only Hyundai and Maruti models feature in the Indian Top 10 again this month.

The Maruti XL6 notches almost 4.000 sales for its 2nd month in market.

However the Kia Seltos ends the month less than 200 units off a historical Top 10 finish that would have occurred on its 2nd month in market, let’s bet this will happen in the coming months. The Maruti Ertiga (+60.1%) continues to take full advantage of the new generation but slips out of the Top 10 at #13. It distances two other successful launches: the Maruti S-Presso which debuts directly at #14 with just over 5.000 wholesales for its first month in market, and the Renaut Triber up 7 spots on August to #16. The Maruti XL6, up 63% on its launch month in August, also makes it into the September Top 20. Apart from the MG Hector (#28) as mentioned above, the Toyota Glanza (#27), none other than a rebadged Maruti Baleno, also breaks its volume record this month at 2.778.

Previous month: India August 2019: Renault Triber, Kia Seltos land with a splash in devastated market (-30.6%)

One year ago: India September 2018: Sales drop again, Maruti Swift nap third ever win

Full September 2019 Top 25 All-brands and Top 100 models below.