India July 2020: Maruti (+1.3%), Tata (+43.2%), Renault (+75.5%) help stabilise market (-1%)

The new Triber helps lift Renault sales up 75.5%. Picture nepaldrives.com

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to spiral out of control in India with over 1.8 million confirmed cases and 38.135 lives lost at the time of writing this article and new daily cases records being broken almost on a daily basis (latest is 57.118 on July 31) placing India at #2 in the world below the US in terms of new infections. Lately, some cities such as Bangalore and states such as Bihar have attempted to reimpose lockdowns. Despite this dire situation, Indian wholesales have suddenly stabilised in June at a minuscule -1% year-on-year to 197.610 units, probably benefitting from pent-up demand by dealerships and customers alike and to be compared with -100% in April, -84.5% in May and -47.2% in June. The year-to-date tally finally crosses the million unit mark at 1.004.754, down -42.1% over the same period in 2019. This sudden improvement had us amend our 2020 Indian forecast from 1.93 million (-35%) last month to 2.08 million (-30%), which would still be the lowest annual result since 2009.

The new Altroz boosts Tata sales up 43.2%.

Market leader Maruti (+1.3%) edges up to 49.5% share vs. 51% so far this year, approaching the 100.000 monthly wholesales for the first time since last February. Hyundai (-2.1%) contains its loss and sports a strong 19.3% share, almost two percentage points above its YTD level of 17.4%. Tata (+43.2%) surges to 7.6% share vs. 6.1% so far in 2020 while Mahindra (-32%) and Kia round out the Top 5 like last month. Renault (+75.5%) scores the largest gain in market in July but it only serves to maintain its share in line with YTD at 3.2%. MG (+39.6%) celebrates one year in market by remaining inside the Top 10 brands for the 6th month running just as Nissan (-71.9%), Toyota (-48.3%), Honda (-47.5%) and Ford (-37.3%) implode.

Kia has now sold 100.000 units in India 12 months after launch.

This month Kia crosses the symbolic 100.000 wholesales milestone (102.609) only 12 months after its launch in the country in August 2019. Kia confirms once again that it is the most successful brand launch in Indian history, just as it prepares the launch of yet another high potential small SUV, the Sonet, on August 7. 100.000 wholesales in 12 months is a new benchmark for future carmakers intending to enter the Indian market, and the performance is such that it leaves previous launches in the dust: it took Hyundai 21 months to reach the same volume in May 2000, Renault 31 months, Toyota 45 months, Volkswagen 50 months, Ford 63 months, Honda 81 months and Skoda 109 months. Out of this total the Seltos sold 98.979 and the Carnival 3.630.

The new generation continues to propel Hyundai Creta sales up.

Onto the models ranking, the Maruti Alto (+17.9%) scores a sturdy year-on-year gain to repeat at #1 and consolidate its YTD leadership somewhat. After a string of rollercoaster months, the podium returns to 100% Maruti with the Wagon R (-10.3%) and Baleno (+10.4%) in tow. Star of the past two months, the Hyundai Creta (+75.4%) continues its formidable run albeit now in 4th place. The Creta is in fact the only non-Maruti nameplate in the Top 8, distancing the Swift (-19.8%), DZire (-30%), Ertiga (-7.8%) and Eeeco (-13.4%). The Hyundai Grand i10 (+64.7%) surges ahead to rank #9 while the Kia Seltos tumbles down 7 spots on June to #10, but remains the best-selling recent launch (<12 months) above the Tata Altroz (#18), Maruti S-Presso (#19) and Renault Triber (#21).

Previous month: India June 2020: Hyundai Creta just misses out on 2nd straight #1 spot, sales down -47.2%

One year ago: India July 2019: Maruti Wagon R #1 for the first time in 4th double-digit market drop in a row (-30.2%)

Full July 2020 Top 15 All India-made brands and Top 85 All-models below.