Having closed CY2022 with its lowest monthly sales last year – 112,010 units in December 2022 – Maruti Suzuki India saw its sales recover smartly to 147,348 units in January 2023. This constitutes 14% year-on-year growth (January 2022) and is the second-best monthly performance in the ongoing fiscal year after the 148,380 units in festive September 2022.
What has helped the passenger vehicle market leader is the return of demand for its entry-level cars – the Alto and S-Presso – 25,446 units, up 37%. Following the company’s launch of the CNG variant of the S-Presso in October 2022 and the third-generation Alto K10 in November, both models are seeing increased customer interest.
Maruti Suzuki’s six-pack comprising the Baleno, Celerio, Dzire (and Tour S), Ignis, Swift and Wagon R sold a total of 73,840 units, up 3% (January 2022: 71,472) while the premium Ciaz sedan continued to fall – 1,000 units, down 40% (January 2022: 1,666)
The UVs – new Brezza, Ertiga, XL6 and the new Grand Vitara – contributed 35,353 units, up 33% on year-ago 26,624 units. Maruti Suzuki is witnessing strong demand for the new Grand Vitara (which now also has a CNG variant) and the new Brezza. The Eeco van with 11,709 units cl growth: 10,581 units, up 15% on year-ago wholesales of 9,165 units.
On the cumulative 10-month (April 2022 to January 2023), Maruti Suzuki has clocked 25% YoY growth with all vehicle categories other than the Ciaz recording strong double-digit growth.
It is understood that the company currently has an order backlog of around 350,000 PVs. Over the past couple of months, production was constrained intermittently by inadequate chip supplies. Given the stiff competition, particularly in the UV market, it will have to speedy rollout of vehicles if it is to capitalise on market demand.