Last fiscal year, the utility vehicles was the only sub-segment from the passenger vehicle (PV), commercial vehicle, three-wheeler, and two-wheeler segments to post a profit. Not only that, the UV segment accounted for 39.12 percent of total PV sales of 27,11,457 units in FY2021 (only 11 months considering April 2020 was a zero-production-and-sales month). This is an improvement over its success in FY2020, when it accounted for 34.10 percent (9,45,959) of total PV sales of 27,73,519 units.
When comparing the Top 5 UV stats for FY2021 and FY2020, it’s clear that the versions are the same or refreshed, but in a different order. So, join us for a number-crunching trip as we examine how this five-pack worked during the previous fiscal year.
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza: 94,635 units
The Brezza is sold via the company’s Arena network, which includes over 2,600 locations in over 1,900 cities. The Brezza’s large footprint, combined with the automaker’s brand name, is expected to continue to be a major factor in its sales.
Hyundai Creta: 1,20,035 units
The new Hyundai Creta, which debuted in March 2020, has dethroned the Maruti Vitara Brezza as the UV champion. The Creta jumped into first place right away and never looked back. Not only that, but it grew 46 percent year over year to 1,20,035 units in challenging market conditions (FY2020: 82,074), propelling it from fourth to first place in UV in FY2021.
Hyundai Venue: 92,972 units
The Location, the second Hyundai model in the Top 5, sold 92,972 units in FY2021, down one rank from FY2020 (93,624). Although the Venue was affected by increased demand for the new Creta in the first half of the fiscal year, demand picked up in the second half.
Kia Seltos: 89,173 units
In FY2021, Kia Motors India’s best-selling model is at No. 4, up to one spot from FY2020, when it sold 81,717 units. The new Hyundai Creta has put a lot of pressure on the Korean carmaker’s first model in India, and its sibling Sonet has sold 63,717 units in its first year in India.
Maruti Ertiga: 88,571 units
Maruti Suzuki India’s Ertiga MPV slips three places to fifth position in FY2021, with total sales of 88,571 units (FY2020: 90,543). That, like the Vitara Brezza, can be attributed to the company’s decision to exit the diesel market last fiscal year. The Ertiga with a diesel engine sold 39,731 units in FY2020, accounting for 44% of total sales.
