Maruti Suzuki's Total Sales Stand At 161,413 Units In May; Exports Rise

Last month, Maruti's domestic sales rose to 1,34,222 units, as against 35,293 units in May 2021

Maruti Suzuki India wants the government to reconsider the proposal to make six airbags mandatory in passenger vehicles, saying the norm will adversely hit the already shrinking small car market

Source : AFP

New Delhi: The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Wednesday said its total wholesales in May stood at 1,61,413 units. The company had sold 46,555 units in May 2021, MSI said in a statement.

Last month, the company's domestic sales rose to 1,34,222 units, as against 35,293 units in May 2021, it added.

"The sales figures of May 2022 are not comparable with that of May 2021 as the operations of the company in May 2021 were significantly affected due to Covid-19 related disruptions," the automaker stated.

Sales of mini cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, stood at 17,408 units last month. It stood at 4,760 in the same month last year. The company said sales in the compact segment, including models such as Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire, was at 67,947 units in May this year. In the corresponding period last year it was at 20,343 units.

Sales of mid-size sedan Ciaz stood at 586 units in the period under review. It stood at 349 units in May 2021.

Utility vehicle sales, including Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga, was at 28,051 units, while in the year-ago month it was 6,355 vehicles, MSI said.

Van dispatches stood at 10,482 units last month. In May last year it was 1,096 units.

Exports last month was at 27,191 units, it stood at 11,262 units in May last year.

Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki India wants the government to reconsider the proposal to make six airbags mandatory in passenger vehicles, saying the norm will adversely hit the already shrinking small car market and may even impact jobs in the auto sector going ahead.

The auto major noted that the regulation would largely impact the cost-sensitive entry-level car segment -- which has been facing headwinds and witnessing dwindling sales over the last three years -- making it even more difficult for two-wheeler users to upgrade to small cars.

Earlier this year, the road transport ministry said it will make it mandatory for carmakers to provide a minimum of six airbags in motor vehicles that can carry up to 8 passengers for enhanced safety of occupants from October this year.

In an interaction with PTI, MSI Chairman RC Bhargava said the cost of the entry-level cars has already gone up considerably due to the implementation of various regulatory norms in the past few years, including the BSVI emission regime from April 1 2020.