India’s automotive market has faced a massive fall due to COVID-19 lockdown
The ongoing COVID-19 lockdown protocol has affected businesses across India, including the automotive industry. Several manufacturing plants are either shut down or working at extreme limitations. Certain OEMs are also concentrating on designing medical equipment at their facilities in a bid to assist the health department in the fight against COVID-19.
In the lower spectrum, automotive dealerships have been closed since they are not part of ‘essential services’. Owing to this, many dealers are at the verge of going out of business in the long run unless concerned authorities lend support. We have already shared the poor sales performance of four-wheelers last month and now, here’s how hatchbacks have done on the sales chart:
Maruti Baleno comes at the top after selling 11,406 units in March 2020 compared to 17,264 units in March 2019. This is a fall of 33.93%. Following with almost a thousand units less is Maruti Alto at 10,829 units and 16,829 units in March 2020 and March 2019, respectively. Sales went down by 35.64%. Maruti WagonR registered 9,151 units last month compared to 16,152 units back in March 2019; facing a loss of 43.34%.
Hatchback Sales March 2020
| No | Model | Mar-20 | Mar-19 | Diff | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maruti Baleno | 11,406 | 17,264 | -5,858 | -33.93 |
| 2 | Maruti Alto | 10,829 | 16,826 | -5,997 | -35.64 |
| 3 | Maruti WagonR | 9,151 | 16,152 | -7,001 | -43.34 |
| 4 | Maruti Swift | 8,575 | 14,218 | -5,643 | -39.69 |
| 5 | Maruti S-Presso | 5,159 | – | – | – |
| 6 | Hyundai i10 Grand | 4,293 | 7,225 | -2,932 | -40.58 |
| 7 | Maruti Celerio | 4,010 | 11,807 | -7,797 | -66.04 |
| 8 | Hyundai i20 Elite | 3,455 | 12,172 | -8,717 | -71.62 |
| 9 | Hyundai Santro | 2,169 | 8,280 | -6,111 | -73.8 |
| 10 | Maruti Ignis | 1,901 | 3,156 | -1,255 | -39.77 |
| 11 | Toyota Glanza | 1,533 | – | – | – |
| 12 | Renault Kwid | 1,475 | 5,853 | -4,378 | -74.8 |
| 13 | Tata Altroz | 1,147 | – | – | – |
| 14 | Tata Tiago | 1,127 | 6,884 | -5,757 | -83.63 |
| 15 | Ford Freestyle | 340 | 1,480 | -1,140 | -77.03 |
| 16 | Ford Figo | 170 | 691 | -521 | -75.4 |
| 17 | Datsun Redi-GO | 139 | 1,374 | -1,235 | -89.88 |
| 18 | Volkswagen Polo | 105 | 1,342 | -1,237 | -92.18 |
| 19 | Nissan Micra | 66 | 186 | -120 | -64.52 |
| 20 | Datsun GO | 2 | 260 | -258 | -99.23 |
| – | Total | 67,052 | 1,25,170 | -58,118 | -46.43 |
Maruti Swift garnered 8,575 units in March 2020 as against 14,218 units a year before; a 36.69% dip. Maruti S-Presso, with no previous data to compare with, hit 5,159 units last month. Hyundai Grand i10 collected 4,293 units this March in comparison to 7,225 units one year ago (down by 40.58%). Maruti Celerio follows at 4,010 units and drop of 66.04% compared to 11,807 units in March 2019. Hyundai i20 Elite sales in March 2020 was 3,455 units or 71.62% down from 12,172 units last year.
Hyundai Santro hit 2,169 units as against 8,280 units back in March 2019 (a sales decline of 73.80%). Maruti Ignis attained 1,901 units or 39.77% less than 3,156 units last year. Toyota Glanza is relatively new and registered 1,533 units in March 2020 (no old data for comparison).
It is followed by Renault Kwid which hit 1,475 units last month compared to 5,853 units last year (down by 74.80%). Tata Altroz, a new product, hit 1,147 units. At exactly 20 units less than Altroz or simply 1,127 units, Tata Tiago faced a substantial fall of 83.63% in the given time period.
Ford Freestyle hit only 340 units compared to a decent 1,480 units a year before (sales dropped by 77.03%). Other entrants on the list in increasing order of March 2020 sales are Ford Figo (-75.40%), Datsun Redi-GO (-89.88%), Volkswagen Polo (-92.18%), Nissan Micra (-64.52%) and Datsun Go (-99.23%). Overall, these hatchbacks garnered a collective sales figure of 67,052 units in March 2020 as against 1,25,170 units back in March 2019 — a fall of 46.43%.