Tata Punch is India's top-selling car; beats Maruti's popular models
In a significant shift in the Indian automotive industry, Tata Motors's compact SUV, the Punch, has surpassed several of Maruti's top models to become India's highest-selling car. The Punch first achieved this milestone in March this year, selling 17,547 units to surpass the 16,368 units of WagonR sold by Maruti Suzuki. Hyundai's CRETA secured the second spot with 16,458 units sold in March.
Punch maintains lead in April, outselling Maruti's WagonR
The Punch continued its strong performance into April as well, selling 19,158 units and surpassing the WagonR's sales of 17,850 units. Maruti's Brezza SUV was the third-highest seller for that month with 17,113 units sold. This marks a rare occasion where a Maruti model has not been the top-seller in India. The Punch's consistent top position for two consecutive months suggests this trend may continue.
Tata Motors's remarkable recovery in the Indian market
Tata Motors has made a significant recovery in recent years, rising to become India's third-largest car company behind Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai. This resurgence has been driven by models such as the Punch, Nexon, Tiago, and Altroz. In FY24, there were months when Tata even surpassed Hyundai to secure second place. The Punch is available in petrol, CNG and electric variants with prices starting from ₹6.1 lakh for petrol versions and above ₹11 lakh for electric ones.
Maruti still dominates the Indian auto market
Despite the recent victories of Tata Motors, Maruti continues to dominate the Indian market overall. In March and April respectively, six and seven out of the top ten best-selling models were from Maruti. Analysts note that Maruti maintains strong traction in the retail market as it adjusts production in line with waiting periods for individual cars. Meanwhile, Tata Motors's confidence is growing as its models gain wider acceptance in the market.
