India February 2021: Volumes up 23.1%, Renault Kiger and new Tata Safari land

The Renault Kiger has landed in India. Picture evoindia.com

Indian new car wholesales celebrate a 7th straight month of year-on-year gains in February at +23.1% to 308.593 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 19.3% to 611.992. Maruti (+8.3%) continues to underperform, leading to a much reduced share year-on-year going from 53% in February 2020 to 46.9% this month. Hyundai (+29%) outpaces the market to remain in firm 2nd place with 16.7% share but the best performers are below: Tata (+119%) more than doubles its volume year-on-year to stay in third position while MG (+214.6%) breaks its volume record at 4.329 in 10th place. Mahindra (+43%), Toyota (+35.9%), Honda (+28.3%) and Renault (+25.7%) also beat the market in the remainder of the Top 10 brands. Up to a record third place a year ago, Kia (+6.8%) loses share this month and ranks 4th. Outside the Top 10, Nissan (+811.5%) benefits from the new Magnite just as Volkswagen (+524.6%), Jeep (+65.6%) and Datsun (+47.5%) also impress.

The Tata Safari returns to the Indian ranking with a new generation. Picture autocarindia.com

Over in the models ranking, the Maruti Swift (+8.4%) reclaims the top spot it held over the Full Year 2020, both for February and year-to-date while the Maruti Baleno (+21%) is up two spots on last month to land in 2nd place. The Maruti Wagon R (+2.7%) and Alto (-5.6%) complete a Top 4 entirely underperforming. In 5th place, the Hyundai Creta (+1675.4%) remains the brand’s best-seller, its extravagant year-on-year gain explained by the life end of its previous generation a year ago. Strong surges below for the Maruti Vitara Brezza (+68.7%) and DZire (+63.1%). We have two newcomers in the Indian charts this month. The Renault Kiger lands at #29, it is a more affordable version of the Nissan Magnite and competes with other sub 4 meter SUVs such as the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Maruti Vitara Brezza and Toyota Urban Cruiser. The new generation Tata Safari is completely redesigned and becomes the brand’s flagship SUV, launched at the end of February it lands directly at #45.

Previous month: India January 2021: Honda (+113.6%), Tata (+93.2%) help lift market up 17.7%

One year ago: India February 2020: Kia secures first brands podium after just 7 months in market, overall volumes down -7.2%

Full February 2021 Top 15 All-brands and Top 78 models below.