Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has significantly expanded its footprint in the sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment, with SUVs now contributing 32% to its total sales. This marks a substantial increase from just 12% five years ago, according to Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer of Marketing and Sales at Maruti Suzuki.
Record-Breaking August Sales Drive SUV Growth
The company reported its highest-ever August domestic sales, reaching 1,80,078 vehicles, a 34.3% year-on-year increase. Total sales, including exports, climbed to 2,19,250 units, up 21.3% compared to the previous year. This robust performance underscores a broader industry trend towards SUVs, which Maruti Suzuki has effectively capitalized on.
SUV volumes for Maruti Suzuki saw a 41% year-on-year growth in the first quarter of FY27, accelerating further to an impressive 67% in July-August. This surge is largely attributed to increased production capacity at its new manufacturing facilities in Gujarat and Kharkhoda, alongside strong consumer demand for its updated SUV range.
Brezza Leads the Charge
A key driver of this growth is the newly launched Brezza. Since its debut on July 24, the updated model has garnered over 50,000 bookings, leading to a current waiting period of approximately two months. Demand for the Brezza is balanced across its turbo-petrol, CNG, and 1.5-litre petrol variants, indicating broad consumer appeal.
Beyond SUVs, Maruti Suzuki highlighted widespread growth across its portfolio, with the mini segment nearly doubling on a year-to-date basis. The company successfully surpassed the milestone of 1 million units in total sales within the first five months of FY27, demonstrating strong overall market performance.
Green Portfolio and Export Challenges
Maruti Suzuki's commitment to sustainable mobility is also gaining traction. Its green vehicle portfolio, encompassing CNG, strong hybrid, and electric vehicles (EVs), now accounts for 44% of total sales, showcasing a significant shift towards cleaner alternatives.
Despite strong international demand, the company's exports faced temporary disruptions in August due to a shortage of shipping capacity. Maruti Suzuki exported 33,844 vehicles in August, slightly below the previous year. Company management noted that vehicles were available at ports, but a lack of international shipping vessels hindered their movement to overseas destinations. Nevertheless, exports for April-August rose 14.1% to 1,88,636 units, and the automaker remains confident in exceeding last year's total exports of 447,000 units, leveraging its presence in over 120 countries.
Looking ahead, Partho Banerjee anticipates the Indian passenger vehicle industry to grow by around 10% in FY27, although he expects growth rates to moderate in the second half due to a higher comparative base.