Maruti's domestic passenger vehicle wholesales declined 8 per cent to 1,43,075 units in August as against 1,56,114 units in the same month a year ago. Deliveries of small cars such as the Alto and S-Presso – which are already facing a shrinking market – declined to 10,648 units from 12,209 units last month. Sales of models such as the Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis and Swift hatchback also declined 20 per cent to 58,051 units as against 72,451 units in the same month a year ago. However, Maruti's utility vehicle and SUV dispatches, which include the Grand Vitara, Brezza, Ertiga, Invicto, Frontx and XL6, rose to 62,684 units as against 58,746 units in the same month a year ago.
Rival Hyundai, which is working on an IPO, reported an 8% decline in domestic shipments to 49,525 units in August as against 53,830 units in the same period a year ago.
Tata Motors reported that wholesale sales of passenger vehicles declined by 3% to 44,142 units last month as against 45,513 units in August last year.
Maruti's senior executive officer (marketing and sales) Partho Banerjee said the company has reduced dispatches as a measure to reduce inventory. The company's dealer stock level, which was 38 days in early August, has come down to 36 days.
But while the top three companies cut numbers, others such as Kia and Toyota added to dealer inventory. Kia India said its wholesales grew 17% to 22,523 units in August. In August last year, it had dispatched 19,219 units to dealerships.