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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Maruti Suzuki seeks govt support to rescue ailing small car segment. Know more
Maruti Suzuki is pitching for government intervention to revive the small car segment in the Indian passenger vehicle market. Notify me Small cars or hatchbacks have been the backbone of the Indian passenger vehicle market for a long time. In recent times, the small car segment has been witnessing immense pressure from the rising demand and sales of utility vehicles, especially SUVs and crossovers. This has pushed the small car segment down drastically. Maruti Suzuki, being the biggest car manufacturer in India, has always had a large pool of small cars. Even now, Maruti Suzuki holds the biggest chunk of the small car segment with its models like Alto K10, S-Presso, Celerio, WagonR, Ignis, etc. The small car segment, which had once dominated the Indian passenger vehicle market, has recorded a gradual decline with the affordability factor coming into play and currently accounts for less than 30 per cent at present. PTI has reported that entry-level cars priced below ₹ 5 lakh, which used to be around a million units (934,538 units) in FY16, have declined to just 25,402 units in FY25. In the hatchback segment, consumer preferences are changing in favour of premium hatchbacks, which sit at the top end of the segment. In such a situation, Maruti Suzuki is seeking the government's support to rescue the small car segment. Also Read : Upcoming cars in India Maruti Suzuki saw sales of models like Alto K10 and S-Presso decline to 6,776 units in May 2025 as against 9,902 units sold in the same month last year. Even the sales of compact cars, including Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, and WagonR, dropped to 61,502 units last month as compared to 68,206 units in May 2024. This has propelled the OEM to pitch for government help to revive the segment. In fact, earlier as well, Maruti Suzuki has advocated for revival in this segment to boost overall passenger vehicle sales in the country. The share of small cars in the overall PV market in India was 47.4 per cent in FY18 and 46 per cent in FY19. In FY20, it improved marginally to 46.5 per cent and has been on a decline since. In FY21, it was 45.6 per cent, 37.5 per cent in FY22, 34.4 per cent in FY23 and 27.7 per cent in FY24. Maruti Suzuki India Senior Executive Officer (Marketing & Sales) Partho Banerjee told reporters in a virtual press conference that with enhanced regulation, prices of small car models have increased significantly, impacting the buyers who want to upgrade from two-wheelers to entry-level cars. "So somewhere the government has to understand that if they want to fuel the growth of the auto industry, they need to understand where the problem is and how to increase the size of the pie (small car sales)," he noted, while adding, 'Some incentives are required so that the customer who is not able to afford the car can come in and can migrate to a four-wheeler from a two-wheeler." Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 03 Jun 2025, 09:57 AM IST
Time of India
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
May 2025 auto dispatches: PVs remain tepid, two-wheelers hold steady
New Delhi: Automobile dispatches to dealers in May 2025, the second month of the current financial year, painted a mixed picture. While passenger vehicles faced challenges due to inventory buildup and sluggish retail demand, two-wheeler sales continued their recovery, driven by strong rural demand and better access to financing. Passenger Vehicles In the PV segment, industry estimates indicate that dispatches stood at approximately 3.51 lakh units in May 2025, reflecting marginal growth over 3.49 lakh units dispatched in the same month last year. This demand continues to be largely driven by SUVs. Country's top carmaker, Maruti Suzuki , reported a 6 per cent year-on-year decline in domestic dispatches, attributing the drop to its decision to 'calibrate supplies to dealers' amid challenging market conditions. The company stated that it currently maintains an average inventory level of 35 days across the country. Partho Banerjee , Senior Executive Officer – Marketing & Sales at Maruti Suzuki, acknowledged that 'the market is slowing, despite the new models available.' While its rural demand remains strong, urban demand is struggling. 'Fundamentally, entry-level vehicles are facing challenges, and even SUVs, except for new models, are witnessing a decline. Overall, the sentiment in the urban market is far from positive,' he said. Maruti's mini cars, including the Alto and S-Presso, are facing the heat, with dispatches falling to 6,776 units from 9,902 units in the same month last year. Compact cars, including the Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, and WagonR, also saw a drop, with dispatches declining to 61,502 units from 68,206 units YoY. The company's Ciaz model, whose production was halted last month, recorded wholesales of just 458 units in May, down from 730 units in May 2024. Banerjee expressed optimism for retail sales in the coming month, noting that while many customers have already secured financing, vehicle deliveries have been delayed due to the impact of the India-Pakistan conflict in a few states. Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, states particularly affected by the situation, collectively account for nearly 22% of the company's sales. However, expectations of a good monsoon are likely to provide additional support to demand in the weeks ahead. For Hyundai, which reported a decline of around 11 per cent in May, the availability of several key models was impacted. Tarun Garg, Chief Operating Officer at Hyundai Motor India, attributed the drop to a routine week-long biannual maintenance shutdown at the company's Chennai manufacturing facility. 'SUV demand remains the bright spot, especially for players like Mahindra, but overall momentum may stay muted until festive season tailwinds kick in,' Nikhil Dhaka, Vice President, Primus Partners told ETAuto. Dhaka added that soft retail sales and emerging concerns over component supply, particularly due to rare earth magnet disruptions, are prompting cautious dispatch strategies from OEMs. It is noteworthy that both companies are realigning their production focus towards exports amid challenges in the domestic market. Rahul Bharti , Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki India, said, 'The strategy of de-risking is paying off well, particularly during these slightly difficult times.' Domestic Sales May 2025 May 2024% changeMaruti Suzuki1,35,9621,44,002-6Mahindra & Mahindra52,43143,21821Hyundai43,86149,151-11Tata Motors41,55746,697-11Toyota Kirloskar29,28025,27316Kia 22,31519,50014JSW MG Motor 6,3044,51040 Earlier, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) had predicted that passenger vehicle retail sales would remain steady but muted in May, as buyers awaited new model launches and grappled with elevated financing costs. On the production front, Gaurav Vangaal, Associate Director – LVP Forecasting at S&P Global Mobility said India's PV market continues to grow steadily despite a high base, with no major challenges on the horizon except rare earth metal sourcing. He noted that while recent regional disruptions due to a war-like situation affected a few states, overall market sentiment remained stable during May. With a favourable monsoon forecast ahead, Vangaal remains optimistic, highlighting rural India's continued role in sustaining PV growth. Two-Wheelers Driven by seasonal wedding demand, sustained rural momentum and post harvest demand, two-wheeler sales continued to remain stable, reflecting steady buyer sentiment across key markets. Among segment players, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) reported a YoY decline in sales, even as all other major two-wheeler manufacturers registered positive growth. Domestic Sales May 2025 May 2024% changeHero MotoCorp4,88,997 479,450 2HMSI4,17,2564,50,589-7TVS 3,09,287 2,71,14014Bajaj Auto1,91,4121,88,3402Suzuki Motorcycles1,07,78092,03217Royal Enfield75,82063,53119 Hero MotoCorp's consistent performance and Bajaj Auto's export-led growth highlight the resilience of the two-wheeler segment, supported by seasonal demand, tax reliefs, and rate cuts that improved buyer sentiment in semi-urban markets, Dhaka said. Looking ahead, he expects the segment to maintain its growth trajectory, especially with strong rural income prospects and a gradual EV shift. 'Macroeconomic stability will remain the key enabler in the months ahead,' he added. Rare Earth Magnets Challenge The industry is also staring at a potential production hit as China has put curbs on export of rare earth magnets, which are used across multiple sectors, including automobiles. China accounts for an estimated 70-80 per cent of processing and over 90 per cent of rare earth magnet production. This heavy dependence has left Indian automakers vulnerable to supply chain disruptions amid ongoing geopolitical and logistical challenges. A recent ET report suggests that a joint delegation from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) is set to visit China to address growing concerns over delays in the import of rare earth magnets. While Rahul Bharti of Maruti Suzuki noted that China's export curbs have not had an immediate impact on production, he confirmed that China has requested an end-user certificate, which must be endorsed by the Indian government and approved by Chinese authorities. He added that the process is currently underway, with the industry in active discussions with the government. Experts suggest that the supply disruption of rare earth magnets is likely to have a greater impact on the electric two-wheeler segment production or even price hikes in the long term, a segment which is more exposed and sensitive to such constraints. During a media interaction on Monday, TVS Motor acknowledged that the effects of the export ban are expected to start reflecting in production by June or July. Last week, Bajaj Auto flagged serious production risks that could arise as early as next month if the supply issue remains unresolved.
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Maruti Suzuki May sales up 3% at 180,077 units; dip in mini car segment
Maruti Suzuki India on Monday reported 3 per cent year-on-year increase in total sales at 1,80,077 units in May. The country's largest carmaker sold a total of 1,74,551 units in May 2024. Total domestic passenger vehicle dispatches to dealers stood at 1,35,962 units last month as compared with 1,44,002 units in the year-ago period, a dip of 6 per cent, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a statement. Sales of mini segment cars Alto and S-Presso declined to 6,776 units as against 9,902 units in the same month last year. Sales of compact cars, including Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, and WagonR, also fell to 61,502 units as compared to 68,206 units in May 2024. Utility vehicles Grand Vitara, Brezza, Ertiga, XL6, Jimny clocked sales of 54,899 units last month as compared with 54,204 units earlier. Sales of Eeco van were at 12,327 units as against 10,960 units. Light commercial vehicle Super Carry sales stood at 2,728 units as against 2,692 units earlier. MSI said its exports last month stood at 31,219 units as compared with 17,367 units in May 2024.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Maruti Suzuki's May sales up 3% to 180,077 units
Maruti Suzuki India Limited reported total sales of 180,077 units in May 2025, marking a 3% increase from the 174,551 units sold in the same month last year. The total includes domestic sales, exports, and deliveries to other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Domestic and export sales breakdown In the domestic market, Maruti Suzuki sold 138,690 units, which includes 135,962 passenger vehicles and 2,728 light commercial vehicles (LCVs). This figure is lower than the 146,694 units sold in May 2024. Sales to other OEMs stood at 10,168 units, while exports rose to 31,219 units from 17,367 units a year earlier. Segment-wise performance The compact segment, comprising models such as the Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, and WagonR, recorded sales of 61,502 units. Mini cars including the Alto and S-Presso accounted for 6,776 units. Utility vehicles, which include models like the Brezza, Ertiga, Fronx, and Grand Vitara, registered sales of 54,899 units. The Eeco van contributed 12,327 units. Total sales for the financial year to date (April-May 2025) reached 359,868 units, up from 342,640 units during the same period last year.>
Economic Times
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Economic Times
Maruti Suzuki shares in focus after 3% YoY jump in May sales
Shares of Maruti Suzuki India are expected to be in focus on Monday after the company reported a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 3.16% in total sales for May 2025. The country's largest passenger car maker sold a total of 1,80,077 units in May, compared to 1,74,551 units sold in the same month last year. ADVERTISEMENT Of the total sales, domestic sales stood at 1,38,690 units in May 2025, marking a 5.45% rise from 1,46,694 units in May 2024. This figure includes both passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles sold within the country. Passenger vehicle sales in the domestic market contributed 1,35,962 units during the month, compared to 1,44,002 units a year ago — a decline of 5.6%. Light commercial vehicle sales, comprising the Super Carry model, came in at 3,557 units, up from 3,642 units in the previous year. Exports contributed 31,219 units in May 2025, increasing from 17,367 units exported in May 2024. Meanwhile, sales to other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) totalled 10,168 units, a marginal decrease from 10,049 units in the same month last year. Also read: Vodafone Idea shares in focus after reporting Rs 7,166 cr Q4 loss Mini segment (Alto, S-Presso) sales declined to 6,776 units from 9,902 units last year. Compact segment (Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, WagonR) reported sales of 61,502 units, down from 68,206 units. Mini + Compact combined sales stood at 68,278 units, compared to 78,108 units in May 2024. The mid-size segment (Ciaz) saw sales of 458 units, down from 730 units. Utility vehicles (Brezza, Ertiga, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Invicto, Jimny, XL6) registered a YoY rise, with 54,899 units sold in May 2025, compared to 54,204 units last year — an increase of 29.53%. Vans (Eeco) sales surged to 12,327 units, compared to 10,960 units in May 2024. Shares of Maruti Suzuki India closed 0.55% lower at Rs 12,317.55 on the BSE on Friday. ADVERTISEMENT (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times) (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)
