Maruti Suzuki's WagonR Leads the Hatchback Market as Sales Surge in 2024

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The Indian automotive market has experienced a significant preference for SUVs in recent years. As of November 2024, SUVs accounted for approximately 54.7 per cent of the total volume in the passenger vehicle sector. However, the situation appears somewhat different for Maruti Suzuki India, the leading car manufacturer in the country. In a recent press conference, the company reported that its top-selling model from April 2024 to December 2024 was the Maruti Suzuki WagonR, with sales reaching 190,855 units, closely followed by the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga at 190,000 units.

Notably, among the five best-selling models for Maruti Suzuki, three were hatchbacks, including the WagonR, the Maruti Suzuki Swift, which sold 172,808 units, and the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, with 172,094 units sold. Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive - Marketing at Maruti Suzuki India, highlighted that in December alone, the top three selling vehicles were hatchbacks, with the Swift leading at 29,765 units, followed by the WagonR and Baleno at 29,566 units and 26,789 units, respectively.

Despite a slight decline in wholesale figures for hatchbacks during the period from April 2024 to December 2024, Banerjee noted that retail sales, which reflect the number of vehicles delivered from dealerships, actually increased by 4 per cent compared to the same timeframe last year.

Banerjee emphasized the company's commitment to customer service, stating that addressing affordability and other related issues is a priority. "We believe that customers are returning because the challenge with entry-level hatchbacks lies not in the product itself but in affordability. The market will eventually adapt. When that will occur remains uncertain, but our focus is on consistently meeting our customers' needs," he remarked.

Booming MPV and SUV sales for Maruti Suzuki

The hatchback segment has consistently been the cornerstone of the leading Indian car manufacturer. However, evolving market conditions have enabled the company to achieve significant growth in both the MPV and SUV categories. Notably, Banerjee indicated that from April 2024 to December 2024, MPVs represented the fastest-growing segment for Maruti Suzuki, experiencing a year-on-year growth of 36.5 per cent.

The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga continued to be the brand's second best-selling model in 2024. During this period, it achieved sales of 190,000 units, solidifying its position as the leading MPV for the company and the second-best seller overall for the financial year 2024-25 thus far.

In contrast, the company's SUV segment experienced a 21 per cent increase in sales from April to December 2024, primarily driven by the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, followed by the Maruti Suzuki Fronx and the Grand Vitara. Notably, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, the company's fourth SUV, recorded sales of 1,500 units in December, which is significantly lower than that of the Mahindra Thar.

Nevertheless, Banerjee expressed confidence in the sales figures for the Jimny as a lifestyle vehicle, suggesting that the market requires additional time to fully appreciate such products. He also refuted speculation regarding a potential price reduction for the Jimny, emphasizing its classification as a lifestyle offering.

Resurgence of sedans for Maruti Suzuki

While SUVs have dominated the automotive market, leaving sedans to face significant challenges, Maruti Suzuki's performance tells a different story. Banerjee highlighted that contrary to the prevailing industry trend indicating a decline in sedan sales, Maruti Suzuki experienced a 4 per cent increase in sedan sales from April to December 2024. Notably, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire achieved sales of nearly 168,000 units during this timeframe.

Following the introduction of the third-generation Maruti Suzuki Dzire, the company reported a positive market response. Maruti Suzuki has indicated that it currently holds an order backlog of over 20,000 units for the 2024 Dzire, with 10,709 units already sold since deliveries commenced in December 2024.

Banerjee also noted that with the new Dzire, approximately 37 per cent of customers are selecting the top-tier ZXi and ZXi+ trim levels, while 17 per cent are opting for the automatic transmission variant. In comparison, the previous generation model saw only 19 per cent of its total sales attributed to the higher-end models.

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