Maruti records its highest ever sales in 2005-06; creates new buyer segments

In 2005-06 Maruti Udyog Ltd sold a record 522,664 passenger cars in the domestic market — the highest since its inception. Including the 34,784 vehicles exported during the year, its total sales stood at 561,822 units.

During the year it also crossed the 5-million vehicle mark.

In March 2006, the company sold 61,141 vehicles in the domestic market; it's highest in a month so far and exported another 2055 units.

The sales were led by the Alto (17,908 units), followed by the WagonR (10,843 units). The company sold 6,651 units of the Swift.

The Alto continued to be India's highest selling model during the year. Its sale grew by 25.7 per cent, thus strengthening Maruti's position in the competitive A2 segment. Sales in this segment grew 23.5 per cent.

The Swift, launched in end-May 2005, had sales of 53,171 cars since its launch and has swept all the 'car of the year' awards in the country and was declared the 'car of the year' in four countries (including India).

In the A3 segment, the Baleno recorded 29.6-per cent growth. The combined sales of the Baleno and the Esteem in the A3 segment grew 7.8 per cent.

The sales by brand for Maruti in March 2006 were:

Segment	Models	For Mar			April - March
		2006	2005	% Change	2005-06	2004-05	% Change
A1	M800	10937	10252	6.7	89223	116262	-23.3
C	Omni, Versa	8390	5955	40.9	66366	65019	2.1
A2	Alto, WagonR, Zen, Swift	37279	30039	24.1	335136	271280	23.5
A3	Baleno, Esteem	3735	3529	5.8	31939	29637	7.8
Total Passenger cars		60341	49775	21.2	522664	482198	8.4
MUV	Gypsy,Vitara	800	918	-12.9	4374	5204	-15.9
Domestic		61141	50693	20.6	527038	487402	8.1
Export		2055	3920	-47.6	34784	48899	-28.9
Total Sales		63196	54613	15.7	561822	536301	4.8

Maruti has been following an interesting marketing strategy in India — apart from its normal sales strategy, it has devised special schemes targeting specific professional and income groups that has enabled it to expand the profile of its customer base

Maruti identified new segments, and reached out to with special schemes and attractive finance options, to enable them to own a Maruti.

For instance it sold around 10,000 cars to teachers through a scheme devised solely to enable teachers' to own its cars. Similarly it has devised a scheme targeting employees of the Indian Railways and has targeted employees of public sector enterprises. Maruti has also devised an offer, Wheels of India, exclusively for state and central government employees.

For instance it sold around 10,000 cars to teachers through a scheme devised solely to enable teachers' to own its cars. Similarly it has devised a scheme targeting employees of the Indian Railways and has targeted employees of public sector enterprises. Maruti has also devised an offer, Wheels of India, exclusively for state and central government employees.