India January 2020: Maruti DZire #1, Baleno breaks record, Kia Seltos hits 15.000 units in market down -5.4%

Kia has sold 60.494 Seltos in just 6 months in India.

After having stabilised towards the end of last year at +1% in October,  -0.5% in November and -0.6% in December, the Indian new car market sees its fall accelerate again in January at -5.4% to an estimated 264.996 wholesales. Brand leader Maruti Suzuki (+0.3%) ignores the slump to remain almost immobile and improve to 52.8% share, its highest since last April and to be compared with 50.1% over FY2019. On the other hand Hyundai (-8.3%) and Mahindra (-12.7%) fall faster than the market and lose share as a result, to 15.9% and 7.4% respectively. As we described last month, Kia’s weak December wholesale volume (4.645) was a ruse to keep MY19 stock low and maintain high pricing, and the Korean’s January volumes pickup where they left off in November (14.500) to reach a stunning 15.450 units and a new record 5.8% share. Kia has now sold 60.944 units in India in just 6 months, cementing its status as the most successful brand launch in Indian history. Even though the Carnival was added to the lineup this month, the bulk if its sales are again achieved by the tremendously successful Seltos (15.000), the #1 SUV in India for the 2nd time in the past 3 months. Renault (+34%) continues to be lifted by the new Triber which accounts for 52.8% of its January volume, up from 47.1% in December and newcomer MG with its single model, the Hector crossover, has now stabilised above 3.000 monthly wholesales, sliding back inside the Top 10 for the 5th time in the past 7 months. Other members of the Top 10 are torn apart: Honda (-71%), Toyota (-48.3%), Ford (-36.6%) and Tata (-22.1%) all implode, and beyond only Skoda (+9.3%) manages an uptick.

The Tata Altroz lands at #19, instantly becoming the brand’s best-seller.

Over in the models ranking, we have a third different market leader in as many month: the Maruti Dzire (+17.5%) securing its 4th win in the past 6 months and its largest volume since July 2018. After topping the overall charts for the first time ever last month, the Maruti Baleno is down to #2 in January but breaks its volume record at 20.485, eclipsing a high mark dating back to April 2018 (20.412). Note that combined sales of Baleno and its twin the Toyota Glanza (22.676) make it the best-selling vehicle in India for the third month running. The Maruti Swift (+6.3%) ensures the podium is 100% in positive which is no mean feat in such a depleted context. After reclaiming the annual pole position in 2019, the Maruti Alto (-19%) falters to a weak 4th place this month while a renewed Maruti Wagon R (+51.6%) closes out the Top 5 in spectacular fashion. Only 232 sales below, the Kia Seltos points its record-breaking bonnet at a record 6th place overall – also hit last November, easily outselling the Maruti Vitara Brezza (-23.1%) in the SUV charts. Although down 4 spots on last month to #12, the Maruti S-Presso still manages almost 7.000 wholesales. With 10 times the wholesales of the Kia Carnival, the Tata Altroz is the other newcomer of the month, landing directly inside the Top 20 and beating the Tiago (4.505 vs. 4.313) to instantly become the brand’s best-seller at home.

Previous post: India Full Year 2019: Kia biggest launch in history, Maruti Alto back to #1, Wagon R and Baleno win monthly in steep market fall (-12.3%)

Previous month: India December 2019: Maruti Baleno secures first ever win, Kia down -67% month-on-month in stable market (-0.6%)

One year ago: India January 2019: Honda (+23.1%), Nissan (+55.3%) can’t help 5th market decline in past 7 months, Tata Nano out

Full January 2020 Top 23 All-brands and Top 80 models below.