2010 Top Selling Cars - India

The year 2010 ended on a high note for the automotive industry across the world and more so in India with the market exploding towards the second half of the year. Though most manufacturers were well prepared to meet this increase, some of them struggled to cope up with this sudden surge. Its time now to look at the top-sellers of 2010.

There are no surprises at the top. Maruti-Suzuki Alto remains India's largest selling car by a wide margin, helped in big part with the recent addition of K10 model. It has also created history by becoming the first ever name-plate in India to record sales in excess of 300,000 units in a single calendar year.

Hyundai's brilliant small car, the i10 takes the second place with Maruti-Suzuki Wagon-R close in its heels. 2011 will most probably see the second and third places reversed going by the recent upward trend of the Wagon-R and the downward trend of the i10. A small price correction for the i10 would help increase its numbers massively. Is Hyundai listening?  

Maruti-Suzuki Swift and Tata Indica finishes just outside the podium. Maruti-Suzuki's Swift Dzire is the largest selling sedan while its Omni is the largest selling Utility Vehicle in India. Considering the fact that the existing Swift is almost 5 years old and with the impeding launch of the new Swift and Dzire this year, I expect their numbers to go up further.

Overall in the Top 10, 5 models are from Maruti-Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata have 2 models each and Mahindra has 1 model. Hyundai's high-priced premium hatchback i20 just missed out being in the Top 10. But with phenomenal sales over the past few months, I strongly feel that the i20 will enter the Top 10 in 2011. That is if the Tata Nano does not see considerable increase in sales.

In the German slug-fest for the crown of India's largest selling luxury brand, BMW (6246 units) once again beat Mercedes-Benz (5819 units) to the top spot. With the recent launch of X1 at extremely competitive prices, BMW is all set to maintain its lead in 2011 also. Audi finished a distant third with 3003 units sold in India.

2010 Top 10 in India:
1. Maruti-Suzuki Alto - 300,950
2. Hyundai i10 - 159,158
3. Maruti-Suzuki Wagon-R - 156,509
4. Maruti-Suzuki Swift - 142,549
5. Tata Indica - 104,841
6. Maruti-Suzuki Swift Dzire - 103,306
7. Maruti-Suzuki Omni - 92,539
8. Hyundai Santro - 87,800
9. Tata Indigo - 85,201
10. Mahindra Bolero - 78,895

Star Performer of 2010: Maruti-Suzuki Alto
Expected Star Performer for 2011: Hyundai i20

(Source for Sales Figures: www.team-bhp.com)