Maruti Suzuki sales decline marginally in October

Country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki today reported a low single digit domestic growth of 2.2 per cent in October, the last month of festive season. The company said production in October was impacted by fewer production days due to holidays.

Domestic sales stood at 123,764 units last month. Domestic volume in seven months ending October grew 10.5 percent to 750,026 units. Total October volume including exports declined 0.3 per cent to 133,793 units. Total volume in seven month period grew 8.7 per cent to 828,883 units.

All segments declined in domestic market last month except utility vehicles and Ciaz. The low growth by market leader will show on the domestic industry's October volumes.

"Market demand for Maruti Suzuki products remained strong during the month. Strong retail sales of Ciaz, S Cross and Ertiga, besides of course Brezza and Baleno, kept the momentum positive for us," MSI Executive Director (Marketing and Sales) R S Kalsi said.

While month-on-month sales figures are impacted by very short-term factors like number of working days, availability, stock plan etc, the more accurate reflection of demand is that for the festive season (August to October), he added.

"MSI sales have grown by about 14% compared to last year," Kalsi said.

Sales of mini segment cars, including, Alto and WagonR, however, declined by 9.8% to 33,929 units as compared to 37,595 units in the year-ago month, MSI said in a statement.

The auto major said sales of the compact segment comprising Swift, Estilo, Ritz, Dzire and Baleno declined by 1.8% to 50,116 units in October this year as against 51,048 units last year.

MSI said sales of its compact sedan Dzire Tour declined by 27.4% during the month under review at 2,481 units. Sales of mid-sized sedan Ciaz rose by 8% to 6,360 units during the month.

Sales of utility vehicles, including Gypsy, Grand Vitara, Ertiga, S-Cross and compact SUV Vitara Brezza surged over 90.9% to 18,008 units in October this year from 9,435 units in the corresponding month last year.

Sales of vans — Omni and Eeco — declined by 6.5% to 12,790 units in October this year as compared to 13,677 units in the same period of previous year.

Exports during the month declined by 23.7% to 10,029 units as compared to 13,146 units in October last year, MSI said.