September car sales in India touched 54-month high - Report

13/10/2016 - 13:30 | ,  ,   | Aravind Jayachandran

Growth driven heavily by new launches.

Sales data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) reveal that car sales in September reached a 54-month high, thanks to the usual influx of demand associated with the festival season.

Maruti Vitara Brezza front quarter full review
In September alone, UV's registered a sales figure of 66,851 units, thanks to products like the Toyota Innova Crysta, Maruti Vitara Brezza, etc.

Overall, sales of passenger cars (cars, SUVs and MPVs) were at 2.78 lakh units in September, registering a growth of 20 percent over sales figures of the same month last year. A healthy monsoon and a pay package bonanza for government employees have contributed to the growth in demand.

Interestingly, utility vehicles constitute a good portion of the overall sales figures. In September alone, UV's registered a sales figure of 66,851 units, thanks to products like the Toyota Innova Crysta, Maruti Vitara Brezza, and Hyundai Creta, all of which have waiting periods ranging from 2-7 months. Despite the premium positioning, the Innova Crysta is the best-selling MPV in India currently, and Toyota Kirloskar Motor is looking to add extra shifts (to production schedule) to meet demand.

The Vitara Brezza retains the title as the best-selling SUV in September, shipping 9,375 units. Since it launched in March, the Vitara Brezza has contributed to the significant growth in the Maruti's utility vehicle portfolio.

Toyota Innova Crysta 2.4 Z side images
Despite the higher pricing, the Innova Crysta is the best-selling MPV in India currently.

Also Read: Maruti Baleno sales surpass 1 lakh units in India

As for cars (hatchbacks and sedans), sales increased to 1.95 lakh units in September against 1.69 lakh units in the same month last year, representing a growth of 15%. Key drivers in this segment are the Renault Kwid (10,558 units), Maruti Baleno (10,623 units), and Maruti Alto (27,750 units).

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