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Maruti sales in July soar, touch a 15-year-high

The increased competition by new entrants in the automobile arena notwithstanding, Maruti Udyog Limited has registered the highest-ever sales of 35,528 units in July 1999 as against the previous high of 32,193 units in May this year.

Maruti also chalked up an all-time high sales of the Zen and the Omni during the month. Overall, Maruti registered a growth of 16 per cent over 30,603 units sold in the corresponding month last year, the company said in a statement today.

The company attributed the surge to the cut in prices of its passenger car models effected in January this year.

The Omni registered an increase of 46 per cent. The Zen registered a growth of 16 per cent. The Maruti 800 showed an increase of ten per cent over the same month last year.

The company sold 7,907 units of the Zen in July 1999, surpassing its previous monthly best of 7,520 units achieved in the month of May 1998. The Zen continued to be the most popular car in its segment, outselling its nearest competitor by an estimated 35 per cent.

The Omni sold 7,548 units as against a previous best of 7,117 units in March 1999. The Maruti 800 sales touched 18,445 units, very close to its record 18,537 units in January 1997.

The Esteem also continued its undisputed leadership in the premium segment, recording sales of 1,596 units, accounting for around 40 per cent of the market share and more than double the sales of its nearest competitor.

According to MUL's chief general manager, sales, Rohtash Mal, the strong sales performance in July has its roots in the Maruti's second revolution -- the price-cut -- initiated in January 1999. (The first revolution was when it launched the small car way back in the '80s, dislodging the Ambassador as the first preffered car of the Indian middle class.)

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