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Informist, Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

 

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--Maruti Suzuki: Registered record high sales in FY26
--CONTEXT: Comments by Maruti Suzuki mgmt in virtual press conference
--Maruti Suzuki: Dzire was India's top-selling car in FY26
--Maruti Suzuki: Stock in company's network currently stands at 12 days
--Maruti Suzuki: Despatched 2,205 e Vitara units in 1st full month of launch
--Maruti Suzuki: Operations running normally, not impacted by West Asia war
--Maruti Suzuki: Exports diversified; buoyancy in overseas demand continues
--Maruti Suzuki: May need to hike prices soon due to input cost pressures
--Maruti Suzuki:Holding off price hikes for now to cater to first-time buyers
--Maruti Suzuki: West Asia war impacted costs, will have to hike prices soon
--Maruti Suzuki:West Asia war has not impacted output so far, only costs hit
--Maruti Suzuki: To be affected by West Asia war developments to an extent
--Maruti Suzuki: On track to meet target of 50% market share by FY31

 

NEW DELHI – In an era when customers increasingly prefer sport utility vehicles to sedans and hatchbacks, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.'s sedan Dzire finished first on the list of the country's top-selling passenger vehicles in the financial year 2025-26 (Apr-Mar). "It was very important that in the market where SUVs are ruling the roost... in between comes a sedan, and it becomes the number one, which is a big achievement," Partho Banerjee, senior executive officer of the company's marketing and sales division, told reporters in a virtual press conference.

 

The Dzire was also the top-selling car across the industry in calendar year 2025, reflecting continued interest in the sedan, which has seemingly bucked the sport utility vehicle trend. Asked about the split in retail and fleet customers for the sedan, Banerjee said the car is "equally liked" by both segments. The Dzire is the only sedan in Maruti Suzuki's stable currently, as the company halted the production of the Ciaz last year.

 

In FY19, the company had held a share of over 50% in the wholesale market, but that has since moderated to just under 40%. Largely seen as being late to the sport utility vehicle party, Maruti Suzuki recently announced plans to launch at least seven new sport utility vehicles in the next 5-6 years. The company is banking on its multi-powertrain and sport utility vehicle launch pipelines to help it attain the peak once again by FY31.

 

"People used to talk about (how) Maruti (Suzuki) doesn't have (presence) in SUVs... we are now the #2 OEM (original equipment manufacturer) in SUVs in the country. Give us some time, we will deliver on the FY31 roadmap," Banerjee said. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. is currently India's top seller of sport utility vehicles.

 

SALES PERFORMANCE

Maruti Suzuki sold 225,251 automobiles to dealerships in March, up nearly 17% on year. In FY26, the company's wholesale sales stood at a record high of 2.42 million units, up 8% on year.

 

Maruti Suzuki's pending bookings stand at 190,000 while its network stock is 12 days. The company is still facing capacity problems, forcing it to restrict the production of its first electric vehicle, the e Vitara, to around 2,000 units despite getting good enquiries a month after its launch. "We will not be able to produce more than 2,000 (units) per month till the time the capacity is not enhanced," the company said.

 

The board of directors of Maruti Suzuki recently approved a capacity expansion plan, with two more plants to be set up, each with a capacity to manufacture 250,000 cars per annum when stable. "The ramp-up takes time, it takes about six months each," Rahul Bharti, executive director in charge of corporate affairs, said. The first plant will be added in Haryana in April and the second in Gujarat in July. 

 

EXPORTS, WAR WORRIES

Several automobile companies have flagged concern around the evolving war in the Persian Gulf region, which has affected supply chains across industries. While Maruti Suzuki has not faced any production issue so far as a result of the conflict, its commodity costs continue to mount.

 

"There is pressure on the commodity prices since the month of December," Banerjee said. Maruti Suzuki's competitors like Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., Hyundai Motor India Ltd., and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. had increased prices in the March quarter to pass on input cost pressures. While the company has not hiked prices so far to cater to its first-time buyers, Banerjee acknowledged that prices are rising. "We need to pass it on," he added.

 

Sales of passenger vehicles were subdued in the first half of FY26 but picked up in the second half, thanks to policy measures from the government. "There is one headwind there in terms of commodity prices which have started going up... In fact, it is going to nullify part of the tailwinds which are already there," Banerjee said.

 

Bharti said Maruti Suzuki's exports have fared well despite the war because of the diversified nature of its exports market. West Asia contributes 12.5% to the company's exports currently. "The general buoyancy continues... It (the war in West Asia) may affect (exports) to some extent. It depends on how long and how deep the impact is. But by and large, we are fairly diversified," Bharti said.

 

For the December quarter, Maruti Suzuki had reported a net profit of INR 37.94 billion on a revenue of INR 498.92 billion. Wednesday, its shares settled 1.7% higher at INR 12,509 on the National Stock Exchange.  End

 

Reported by Anand JC

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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