After dismal results in 2013 and 2014, the year 2015 gave the much needed push to the Indian automobile industry as it’s expected to close this year at around 6 per cent year-on-year growth. From the year 2011 to 2014, the overall industry saw a decline of 1 per cent. Of all the segments, passenger vehicle sales inspected a reasonable growth thanks to several new car launches over the year.
While bad rains in some parts of the country affected the two-wheeler growth, low crude oil prices and investment announcements in infrastructure sector helped the passenger vehicle segment register record sales. As against the calendar year 2014’s 2.54 million passenger vehicles sold in the domestic market, the on-going calendar year is expected to achieve 6 per cent growth with an estimated 2.69 million units this year.
While the year wasn’t good for domestic players like Tata and Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Honda managed to attract buyers over the year banking on their new products.
Commenting on this Suraj Ghosh, principal analyst, IHS Automotive said: “The year wasn’t good for the domestic players Tata and Mahindra, though both had new launches this year. Tata’s Bolt didn’t do well, whereas Zest had good initial few months but then couldn’t sustain the enthusiasm. Mahindra TUV300 also had good initial response but it’s success can be assessed only a few months later,”
“Maruti has continued its dominance in the Top 10 selling cars this year as well, with it’s older models like Alto, Swift and Dzire successfully holding on to their popularity. It further confirms the effectiveness of Maruti’s two strategic pillars on which it had built its brand – affordability and fuel efficiency. And with i20 and grand i10 doing well, Hyundai also has shown consistent performance in 2015. Verna was bit of a disappointment this year with new Honda City regaining its old ground somewhat but Creta’s numbers kept Hyundai in a good position overall.”, he added.
1. Maruti Suzuki Alto
With a monthly average of over 22,682 units, the Maruti Suzuki Alto maintained its position of being the largest selling car for the 10th consecutive year. In October 2015, the Alto also became the best selling model in India with a total of over 29 lakh units sold since its launch in the year 2000.
Total – 2,49,507 units | Monthly average – over 22,682 units
2. Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire
The country’s most successful sub-4 metre vehicle, the Swift Dzire is the second best-selling car this year. As against 1,93,680 units sold in the first 11 months of 2014, Maruti Suzuki India sold a total of over 2.19 lakh units of the sub-4 metre sedan in the same period this year.
Total – 2,19,248 units| Monthly average – over 19,931 units
3. Maruti Suzuki Swift
With a marginal year-on-year growth of over 3.75 per cent, the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire managed to retain the third spot in the top-selling cars this year as well. With a monthly average of over 17,488 units, the Indo-Japanese carmaker sold over 1.92 lakh units of the Swift in the first 11 months of this calendar year.
Total – 1,92,376 units | Monthly average – over 17,488 units
4. Maruti Suzuki WagonR
Introduction of AMT and a couple of limited editions this year, the ‘tall boy’ hatch is the fourth largest selling car this year. As against 1,46,931 units sold in the first 11 months of 2014, the company sold over 1.55 lakh units of the WagonR this year.
Total – 1,55,754 units | Monthly average – over 14,159 units
5. Hyundai i20
The ‘Indian Car of the Year 2015’, Hyundai i20 is the country’s most loved premium hatchback, and proof of that is in the fact that over 1.19 lakh units of it were sold in the 11 months of this year. With a monthly average of over 10,822 units, the i20 has outranked Grand i10 to become the 5th best-selling car this year.
Total – 1,19,705 units | Monthly average – over 10,882 units
6. Hyundai Grand i10
With a total sales of over 1.11 lakh units this calendar year, the Hyundai Grand i10 has recorded an impressive 16.5 per cent year-on-year growth. However, a slightly better demand for the i20 pushed it from fifth to sixth position this year.
Total – 1,11,306 units | Monthly average – over 10,118 units
7. Mahindra Bolero
Despite rising competition in the SUV segment, Mahindra Bolero managed to be in the list of top-selling cars this year as well. However, the company saw a decline of over 12 per cent in the sales of the Bolero this year. In the 11 months of this calendar year, the company sold a total of 80,914 units against the last year’s 92297 units in the same period.
Total – 80,914 units | Monthly average – over 7,355 units
8.Honda City
The City is the only car from Honda Cars India in the list of 10 best selling cars this year with a monthly average sales of over 6,958 units in January – November 2015 period. The company sold a total of 76,546 units of the Honda city this year as against the last year’s 71,308 units.
Total – 76, 546 units | Monthly average – over 6,958 units
9.Maruti Celerio
Country’s first automated manual transmission (AMT) equipped car, the Maruti Suzuki Celerio has recorded a significant year-on-year growth of 19.4 per cent in this calendar year till November. As against last year’s 62765 sold units till November, the company sold 74,942 units of the Celerio this year.
Total – 74, 942 | Monthly average – over 6,812 units
10.Maruti Suzuki Omni
One of the oldest cars in Maruti Suzuki’s line-up, the Omni still sells more units than several new-generation vehicles. Priced between Rs 2.35 lakh – Rs 2.91 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) the mini van is quite popular among people looking for an affordable cargo. In the 11 months of this calendar year, Maruti Suzuki sold a total of 72,778 units of the Omni with a monthly average of over 6,616 units.
Total – 72,778 | Monthly average – over 6,166 units