Maruti sales up 8.7%, but premium sedan Kizashi bombs

The country's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), today Monday reported an 8.7-per cent increase in total sales for February at 118,551 units as against 1,09,104 units in the same month of last year.

India's largest carmaker by sales said its domestic sales increased by 8.2 per cent during the month to 107,892 units as against 99,758 units in February 2014.

Sales of cars in the 'mini' segment, including the Alto and WagonR, rose 7.1 per cent to 39,988 units as compared to 37,342 units in the year-ago month, MSI said in a statement.

On the other hand, sales of compact cars comprising the Swift, Estilo, Ritz and Dzire declined by 6.4 per cent to 42,778 units in February this year as against 45,721 units in same period last year.

Sales of its compact sedan Dzire Tour rose by 95.7 per cent during the month at 2,552 units as against 1,304 units in February 2014. The sales of mid-sized sedan Ciaz, which was launched in October 2014, stood at 5,410 units; while the company sold 228 units of SX4 sedan in February 2014.

Its new premium sedan Kizashi saw no sales at all during the month, perhaps indicating that a small-car maker who should not venture into luxury models.

Sales of utility vehicles, including the Gypsy, Grand Vitara and Ertiga, rose by 12.1 per cent at 5,863 units in February this year from 5,231 units in the corresponding month last year. Sales of vans, Omni and Eeco, rose by 13.8 per cent to 11,301 units in February this year as compared to 9,932 units in the same period of previous year.

Exports during the month rose by 14 per cent to 10,659 units as compared to 9,346 units in February last year, MSI said.

Sales of utility vehicles, including Gypsy, Grand Vitara and Ertiga, rose 12.1 per cent to 5,863 units in February this year from 5,231 units in the corresponding month last year.

Sales of vans, `Omni' and `Eeco', rose 13.8 per cent to 11,301 units in February this year compared to 9,932 units sold in the same month last year.

Exports during the month rose 14 per cent to 10,659 units compared to 9,346 units sold in February last year.