Notwithstanding the double digit decline in whole sales, India’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd has managed to hold on to its position of the country’s largest utility vehicle manufacturer by commanding a market share of 25.46% in the first four months of the current fiscal year (April to July period).
The launch of XL6 – a multi-purpose vehicle – has further bolstered Maruti’s position, in the face of stiff competition from competitors like Hyundai Motor India Ltd and Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd.
“Maruti Suzuki has topped the chart of utility vehicle sales, by registering a market share of 25.46% during first four months of FY 2019-20. The company has redefined the utility vehicle segment in India with distinctive offerings for the customers. Maruti Suzuki’s UV range of Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga revolve around best of design, technology and experience," the company said in a press release issued in Tuesday.
According to Shashank Srivastava, executive director, marketing & sales, Maruti Suzuki, in recent years the company has strategically widened its utility vehicle portfolio matching customer demands. The utility vehicle segment is growing fast and we bring out products that match and compliment customer’s demand.
“Our offerings in the utility vehicle segment - Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga, are aimed to tap the dynamic needs of our consumers. The recently launched XL6 reflects aspirations of urban individuals. We will continue to boost our relationship with customers by focusing to create products for them that are best in-class in quality, features and technology," added Srivastava.
Maruti lost the position of the largest utility vehicle manufacturer in July, when Hyundai sold more vehicles in the segment, on the back of its new compact SUV, Venue.
With no recovery in consumer demand in sight during the festive months, Maruti Suzuki on Monday announced that number of vehicles manufactured in its three plants declined significantly by 33.9% year on year to 111370 units in August, the company noted in a regulatory filing on Monday.
In the corresponding period last year, the company manufactured 168725 units of vehicles across its plants. This is probably the sharpest fall in production of vehicles registered by the New Delhi based vehicle manufacturer.
