NEW DELHI: New model launches, led almost entirely by sport utility vehicles, helped several automakers post record July sales, suggesting that in an otherwise competitive passenger vehicle market, fresh products are increasingly deciding the winners.Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles registered the strongest growth among the larger manufacturers, with sales jumping 59% year-on-year to 63,760 units. While Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles electric vehicle sales more than doubled to 15,217 units, the company has also expanded its SUV portfolio over the past year.Market leader Maruti Suzuki sold 2.4 lakh vehicles in July, up from 1.8 lakh units a year earlier. Domestic sales crossed the two-lakh mark for the first time in any July, while utility vehicle sales surged nearly 50% to 78,851 units, reflecting the growing contribution of models such as the Fronx, Grand Vitara, Brezza and electric Vitara.Mahindra continued to ride the SUV wave, retailing 60,048 utility vehicles in the domestic market, up 20% year-on-year. Including exports, SUV sales stood at 60,887 units, while overall vehicle sales rose 26% to 1,03,860 units. Exports climbed 47% to 4,070 units.Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor India and Kia India also posted their best-ever July wholesale volumes, driven by their SUV line-ups. Hyundai has reported record monthly sales of 75,360 units, including 54,210 domestic sales and 21,150 exports – its highest export tally in more than 100 months. Kia dispatched 28,200 units, up 27.4% from a year earlier, saying demand remained strong for the Seltos and Sonet, while newer models such as the Syros and Carens Clavis added to growth.Among other automobile manufacturers, JSW MG Motor India posted its second consecutive record monthly wholesale performance, dispatching 8,158 vehicles, with electric vehicles contributing over 80% of sales.Meanwhile, the clearest impact of a new launch was most visible at Nissan. Domestic wholesales soared 218% to 4,518 units after deliveries of the Tekton SUV began on July 20. Including exports, the company sold 9,339 vehicles, riding on the launch of the Tekton.
