Maruti Suzuki Dec sales rise 3% at 95,145 units

Maruti Suzuki's total sales in December rose 3.2 percent year-on-year to 95,145 units, helped by strong demand for its Ertiga multi-utility vehicle and compact DZire, even as sales of mini and mid-size cars continued to decline.

Maruti Suzuki's total sales in December rose 3.2 percent year-on-year to 95,145 units, helped by strong demand for its Ertiga multi-utility vehicle and compact DZire, even as sales of mini and mid-size cars continued to decline.

The India's largest passenger car maker by sales sold 82,073 units in the domestic market, up 6 percent from a year ago. But exports were down 11 percent to 13,072 units, last month.

Passenger car sales in India have taken a hit over the last one year as customers shunned petrol cars amid high fuel prices and expensive loans.

Maruti's sales of the predominantly petrol engine powered mini cars - 800, Alto, A-Star and WagonR - declined 15 percent to 32,797 units, despite good response to the newly launched Alto 800.

Demand for the company's mid-size sedan SX4 continues to be low with dispatches plunging 61 percent to 329 units in Dec. Van sales were also flattish at 7,897 units.

However, sales of the DZire compact sedan accelerated 42 percent to 13,076 units and sales of the compact hatbacks - Swift, Estilo and Ritz - gained 9 percent to 22,482 units.

Strong demand for Ertiga, which was launched in April 2012, continues to drive Utility vehicle sales. Maruti sold 5,447 UVs, including Ertiga, Gypsy and Grand Vitara, last month, compared with just 238 units, a year ago.

So far this financial year (Apr-Dec), Maruti's sales are up 7 percent at 8.28 lakh units. While domestic sales have gained 8 percent, exports are down 3 percent.

Maruti's shares hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,567 on NSE on Thursday morning.  At 10:45 hrs, the stock was at Rs 1,552.50, down 0.3 percent.