New Delhi: The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India’s hatchback Swift emerged as the best-selling passenger vehicle (PV) model in November, pushing down the company’s entry level car Alto, which occupied the number one spot in the same month last year, to fourth position.
According to data by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Swift sold 22,191 units last month as against 13,337 units in the year-ago month when it occupied the sixth spot in the best-selling PV model list.
Retaining the second place last month was MSI’s compact sedan Dzire with 21,037 units sold, albeit lesser number compared to 22,492 units in November last year. MSI’s premium hatchback Baleno also retained its third spot with 18,649 units. It had sold 17,769 units in November 2017.
The company’s entry-level small car Alto came in the fourth spot with 14,378 units sold in November as compared to 24,166 units in the same month last year, when it occupied the top spot.
Another model from MSI’s stable, Vitara Brezza sold 14,378 units last month coming at the fifth spot, down from fourth position in November 2017 when it sold 14,458 units. Completing a sweep of the top six spots for MSI was Wagon R with 11,311 units sold last month, down from fifth in November last year when it clocked 14,038 units. Hyundai Motor India Ltd’s (HMIL) premium hatchback Elite i20 sold 10,555 units in November coming at seventh position, up from eighth in the same month last year when it sold 10,236 units.
HMIL’s SUV Creta clocked 9,677 units to be at eighth position, moving up one slot from November last year when it registered 8,528 units.
Another compact car from the company’s stable, Grand i10 sold 9,252 units last month coming in at the ninth spot, down from seventh in the year-ago month when it sold 13,249 units.
Making an entry into the top ten best selling PV models was HMIL’s comeback model Santro with 9,009 units. It was re-launched in October this year after it was discontinued in December 2014.
Meanwhile, the auto major plans to launch a couple of vehicles next year including a compact hatchback in the first quarter.
Besides, Tata Motors’ Harrier, Mahindra’s compact SUV XUV300, Kia’s compact SUV SP Concept and Nissan Kicks are set to generate consumer interest in 2019.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor Deputy Managing Director N Raja said, “In the year 2019, passenger car market is estimated to have a growth of 7-8 per cent in accordance with the economy growth.” (PTI)
