SUV sales have taken off recently in India. Maruti Suzuki’s first compact SUV crossed sales of a lakh within a year of its launch, and Hyundai’s Creta has notched up a milestone of its own.
The company recorded its highest-ever monthly sales of 9,002 units in February 2017. Twenty-one months after it was launched, the Creta has averaged sales of 7,177 units every month.
The Creta is available with a choice of a petrol (123hp, 1.6L) and two diesel (90hp, 1.4L / 128hp, 1.6L) engines.
Hyundai ramped up production by 30 percent to reduce the 10-month waiting period on the SUV. To mark the Creta’s first anniversary, Hyundai rolled out a limited-run First Anniversary Edition as well as newer variants, including a petrol automatic and a more affordable diesel automatic.
The Creta also became the second most sold UV in India in 2015-16 after the Mahindra Bolero, which ended the fiscal with sales of 67,484 units. Out of Hyundai's total 64,796 UVs sold, the Creta accounted for 63,836 units in 2015-16, helping the Korean carmaker overtake Ford India, Renault India and Tata Motors.
The company is eyeing speedier growth in India. It sold 4.84 lakh units in 2015-16 and had a market share of 17.36 percent at the time – its highest yet.
With just the month to go for the end of the fiscal year, Hyundai is well placed to cross its sales target. For the 11-month period of April 2016-February 2017, the company has sold a total of 4,64,948 units. This means it needs sales of 35,052 units in March 2017 alone to reach its target as well as record its best sales in India.