Auto sales roundup in 2023: Hyundai, MG Motor India posts growth, Maruti Suzuki sees dip and more

Domestic car sales were strong throughout 2023, with automakers logging bumper numbers for the year compared to the last. (Representational Image)

Domestic car sales witnessed strong growth past year with automakers logging bumper numbers compared to 2022. Buoyed by festive demand, car sales reached record highs in September 2023 and the momentum carried them through November and December. Overall, it was a strong showing for the Indian auto industry throughout the year.

Hyundai Motors

Hyundai Motors saw a 9 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase in sales totalling 7,65,786 units in 2023. In 2022, the company had sold a total of 7,00,811 units. It also achieved the highest-ever domestic sales in a calendar year. Its exports grew 10 percent to 1,63,675 units in 2023 compared to 1,48,300 units in 2022.

MG Motor India

MG Motor recorded an 18 percent boost in retail sales totalling 56,902 units in 2023 of which around 25 percent of the sales were recorded in the electric vehicle segment. The company's flagship Comet EV has seen sales of 20,000 units to date. The company said that with 18 percent growth, it was a fourth consecutive year of gains.

Maruti Suzuki India

With 1,37,551 units sold in December, the domestic carmaker reported a decline of 1.28 percent in cumulative total sales for the year. But it wasn't all doom and gloom, as the company said it had, "crossed the annual sales milestone of 2 million units in calendar year 2023, which includes its highest-ever calendar year exports of 2,69,046 units".

Sales of entry-level mini cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, were lower at 2,557 units compared to 9,765 units a year ago.

Compact cars like WagonR, Dzire, Baleno, Celerio, Swift, Ignis, Tour S declined in December 2023 to 45,741 units. Utility vehicles including Brezza, Ertiga, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Invicto, Jimny, S-Cross and XL6 showed an improvement at 45,857 units in December.

Mahindra and Mahindra 

Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) reported a growth of 6 percent for December 2023 with 60,188 units sold. "We continued to face some supply challenges on select parts. We are working closely with our suppliers to mitigate these challenges going forward," M&M President, Automotive Division Veejay Nakra said.

Passenger vehicle sales stood at 35,174 units for December, up 24 percent compared YoY. Utility vehicles also grew 24 percent with a total of 35,171 units in December.

Tractor sales were down 18 percent in December, domestic tractor sales were down 17 percent compared to the year-ago period. Tractor exports were also lower by 31 percent at 1,110 units against 1,603 units in the same month a year ago, the company said.

Eicher Motors

The company's VE commercial vehicles arm posted an 11.1 percent growth in December 2023 totalling 8,026 units. Eicher branded trucks and buses recorded a total of 7,468 units sold compared to December 2022.

Exports of Eicher branded trucks and buses were down 3.3 percent at 321 units as against 332 units in December 2022, it added.

Bajaj Auto

The company reported a 16 percent increase with 3,26,806 units sold in December 2023. The over all two-wheeler sales registered a growth of 15 percent for the month, while domestic two-wheeler sales saw a growth of 26 percent.

Exports of two-wheelers were higher at 1,24,631 units last month from 1,21,499 units in December 2022.

Total commercial vehicle sales were higher by 27 per cent at 43,805 units against 34,462 units in the same month a year ago, the company said.

Toyota Kirloslar Motor

The company reported a 46 percent growth in wholesales with 2,33,346 units sold in 2023. Domestic sales stood at 2,21,356 units in 2023.

Exports in 2023 were at 11,984 units, it added.

"(The) growth of 46 percent compared to last CY (calendar year) came from across the product portfolio. The consistent month-on-month performance, coupled with a year-round upward trend, indicates a growing customer interest in all our line-up of cars," TKM Vice President of Sales and Strategic Marketing Atul Sood said.