In February 2025, the Indian wholesale auto market set a new record with 381,000 units sold, marking a 2.3% year-on-year increase. This made it the highest February sales figure ever recorded.

Cumulative sales for the first two months of the year stood at 782,229 units, up 2.2% year-on-year, also setting a new benchmark.

● In brand performance, Maruti Suzuki retained its top spot with a 42.2% market share, while Mahindra surged to second place for the first time, outpacing Hyundai with a robust 18.9% growth.

● In the model category, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx topped the sales chart for the first time with 21,461 units sold, a 51.5% year-on-year increase, setting a new monthly sales record.

We delve into the sales overview, brand performance, model sales, and explore market trends in detail.

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India February 2025

Sales Overview and Brand Analysis

In February 2025, Indian wholesale auto sales reached 380,691 units, up 2.3% year-on-year, maintaining steady growth despite the traditional off-season.

Cumulative sales for the first two months stood at 782,229 units, up 2.2% year-on-year. The Indian auto market continued its upward trajectory at the start of 2025, fueled by robust consumer demand.

● Here's a look at the sales performance of the top 10 brands in the Indian market in February 2025:

◎ Maruti Suzuki: Sold 160,791 units, market share of 42.2%, up 0.3% year-on-year. With its extensive product line and strong localization strategy, Maruti Suzuki continues to dominate the Indian market.

◎ Mahindra: Sold 50,420 units, market share of 13.2%, up 18.9% year-on-year. Mahindra set a new brand record, overtaking Hyundai for the first time to secure second place. The success of its SUV lineup, notably the Thar (up 59.1%) and the new XEV 9e, drove its growth.

◎ Hyundai: Sold 47,727 units, market share of 12.5%, down 4.9% year-on-year. A disappointing performance for the month.

◎ Tata: Sold 46,437 units, market share of 12.2%, down 9.4% year-on-year. A weaker performance, losing some of its former shine.

◎ Toyota: Sold 26,414 units, market share of 6.9%, up 13.4% year-on-year. Steady growth, attributed to its reliability and hybrid technology.

◎ Kia: Sold 25,026 units, market share of 6.6%, up 23.9% year-on-year. Kia showed impressive performance, demonstrating its rapid penetration into the Indian market.

◎ Honda: Sold 5,616 units, market share of 1.5%, down 21.4% year-on-year. Honda faces pressure and needs to adjust its strategy.

◎ Skoda: Sold 5,583 units, market share of 1.5%, up 147.7% year-on-year. The fastest-growing brand of the month.

◎ MG: Sold 4,002 units, market share of 1.1%, down 11.7% year-on-year. The only Chinese brand in the top 10.

◎ Volkswagen: Sold 3,110 units, market share of 0.8%, up 3.0% year-on-year.

● The prominent Chinese brand is MG (under SAIC Motor Group). Its February sales were 4,002 units, down 11.7% year-on-year, with a market share of 1.1%. MG has a solid foundation in the Indian market, particularly with its electric models (like the MG ZS EV) receiving attention. The decline in sales this month indicates fierce competition from local brands (like Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra) and Korean brands (Hyundai and Kia).

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Model Sales Analysis

● Here are the top 10 best-selling models in the Indian market in February 2025:

◎ Maruti Suzuki Fronx: Sold 21,461 units, up 51.5% year-on-year. The Fronx topped the monthly sales chart for the first time, breaking its previous record of 16,419 units in October last year and becoming the second best-selling model of the year.

◎ Maruti Suzuki Wagon R: Sold 19,879 units, up 2.4% year-on-year. The Wagon R remained in second place and led in cumulative sales for the first two months of the year.

◎ Hyundai Creta: Sold 16,317 units, up 6.8% year-on-year. The Creta maintained its strong performance, ranking third.

◎ Maruti Suzuki Swift: Sold 16,269 units, up 23.6% year-on-year. The Swift showed significant growth, indicating its continued popularity.

◎ Maruti Suzuki Baleno: Sold 15,480 units, down 11.6% year-on-year. The Baleno's performance declined but remained in the top five.

◎ Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza: Sold 15,392 units, down 2.4% year-on-year. The Brezza remained stable.

◎ Tata Nexon: Sold 15,349 units, up 6.6% year-on-year. The Nexon contributed significantly to Tata's sales.

◎ Maruti Suzuki Ertiga: Sold 14,868 units, down 4.2% year-on-year. The Ertiga performed steadily.

◎ Maruti Suzuki DZire: Sold 14,694 units, down 7.2% year-on-year. The DZire saw a slight decline.

◎ Tata Punch: Sold 14,559 units, down 21.0% year-on-year. The Punch's performance was weak.

Among recently launched models, Kia Syros ranked 24th, Skoda Kylaq rose to 32nd, Mahindra XEV 9e climbed to 41st, and Mahindra BE 6 was 57th. The improved rankings of these new models reflect the market's positive reception.

Additionally, though Mahindra Thar did not make the top 10, it achieved a new high with a 59.1% growth rate, underscoring its appeal in the SUV segment.

Maruti Suzuki occupied six spots, demonstrating its unparalleled market dominance. The rise of the Fronx signals growing consumer preference for compact SUVs, while the stable performance of the Wagon R reflects the demand for economical family cars.

Mahindra and Tata's SUV models (such as the Thar, Nexon, and Punch) performed prominently, indicating a sustained increase in the preference for SUVs in the Indian market.

The success of the Hyundai Creta and Kia Syros highlights the competitiveness of Korean brands in design and cost-effectiveness. The rapid rise in rankings of new models (such as the Kylaq and XEV 9e) indicates that market competition will further intensify.

Summary

In February 2025, the continued leadership of Maruti Suzuki, the strong surge of Mahindra, and the sales breakthrough of the Fronx were the key highlights in the Indian auto market. The Chinese brand MG performed modestly.