Mumbai: Setting the tone for the new financial year, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd’s domestic sales zoomed 23.4% to 144,492 units in April over the year-ago period, the local arm of the Japanese car maker said in a statement on Monday.
The sales were led by robust growth across all the segments, including entry-level cars which rose 21.9%, compact cars which advanced at a brisk 39.1%, and mid-size and utility vehicles segment which grew 23.2% and 28.6%, respectively, over the same month last year.
Of the total sales, Maruti’s compact car models, including Swift Dzire and Dzire Tour, accounted for a bulk 63,854 units against 45,700 units last year.
With the launch of new models, including the new generation Swift and Dzire later this year, the strong sales run for the market leader is likely to continue in the current fiscal year.
The company’s exports, however, fell by a sharp 29.4% to 6,723 units over the last year.
Fuelled by utility vehicles, passenger vehicles in India during the fiscal year ended 31 March crossed three million for the first time ever, growing at the fastest rate in six years, industry lobby group Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said last month.
The growth momentum is expected to continue in the current year as crucial economic reforms such as the goods and services tax coupled with a normal monsoon are likely to boost the overall economy.