Maruti's January sales slump seven percent

Maruti registered a 7.25 percent year-on-year (YoY) decline in January wholesales at 128,924 cars (January 2021: 139,002). The January sales, were however up 13 percent compared to previous month’s 113,851 units.

The company’s entry-level cars – the Alto and S-Presso – continued to be on the declining trend and registered a de-growth of 26 percent with sales touching 18,634 units (January 2021: 25,153). The hit on these mass-market products hints at the distress in the economy as well as the impact of rising fuel prices deterring buyers.

Maruti Suzuki’s pack of models including the Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Swift, Ignis, Tour S and WagonR also reported a 7 percent YoY decline to 71,472 units (January 2021: 76,935), and its Eeco van declined 10 percent as well at 10,528 vehicles (11,680).

The utility vehicle range comprising the Ertiga, Vitara Brezza, S-Cross, Gypsy and XL6 save blushes for the carmaker and recorded a YoY uptick of 11.45 percent to 26,624 units (January 2021: 23,887 units). Similarly, the Ciaz sedan clocked 1,666 units to register an uptick of 24 percent (January 2021: 1,347).