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Maruti sales see a dip, rival car makers Hyundai, Tata enjoying the feast

Maruti Swift and Maruti Swift Dzire seem to be the backbone of Maruti car sales in India replacing the Maruti Alto small car. Due to the no production and consequent setback to sales for almost a month, the car maker’s overall sales dipped by 35 percent in August. Whereas its two top rivals Hyundai and Tata Motors have posed positive growth in the same month. Other car makers including Mahindra, Toyota and Ford have also reported positive growth in the last month. The factor that must have pulled down Maruti car sales is the non availability of Swift and Swift Dzire due to the lockout at the Manesar plant.

The damage to Maruti was controlled by Maruti Alto and other cars including the Maruti Wagon R Pro that was launched in August. Also, the monsoon offers floated by the company have also to some extent fetched some numbers. Auto industry experts believe that it is the overall low demand in the market that has marred Maruti car sales and no so promising growth registered by other car makers. If the market condition were good, every car maker could have posted exceedingly well car sales in India. Tata was saved by Tata Nano that has registered five fold increase in sales in August compared to the same month last year. Meanwhile, Hyundai domestic sales were also decently well following the Hyundai Eon small car and the Hyundai Elantra that was launched just towards the end of August.

Commenting on the present market conditions auto industry experts have said that low demand due to inflation, nearing festive season and high interest rate has desisted car makers from attaining overwhelming results in August. Also due to the proximity of the festive season, people seem to have delayed their car buying during Diwali which is on November 13.