Mumbai: Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), India’s largest carmaker, reported domestic vehicle sales of 142,250 units in January, flat when compared with 142,150 units sold in the year-ago period.
The company’s core small car category reported an 11.4% year-on-year (YoY) growth to 110,225 units in January. Sales of utility vehicles (UVs) fell 27% to 16,460 units, and vans declined 19% to 12,324 units.
It sold 25,885 units in the mini small car category, which includes Alto and the recently launched S-Presso models. In the compact hatchback category, which comprises popular models such as Swift, New WagonR, Baleno, Dzire, Celerio, among others, Maruti sold 84,340 units last month compared with 75,571 units in the year-ago period.
Analysts suggest that sales of UVs declined in January as the carmaker shifted gears to focus on rolling out BS VI emission norms compliant models. Its bestselling UV--the Vitara Brezza--will soon be available with BS VI compliant petrol engine.
In the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment, where it sells the Super Carry, the company dispatched 2,406 units, down 11% YoY.
The company supplied 2,249 units of its premium hatchback Baleno to its alliance partner Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd. Toyota sells rebadged Baleno cars as Glanza model in its portfolio.
Maruti exported 9,624 units last month, down 0.6% YoY. Total sales, including exports, stood at 154,123 units in January, up 1.6% year-on-year.
At 12:01pm on the BSE, shares of Maruti Suzuki traded 1.7% higher at ₹7,020.25, while benchmark Sensex was up 0.13% at 40,775.77 points.
