In June 2020, the Indian automotive market sold 3,159 C-segment sedans compared to 8,236 units back in June 2019
As the Indian automotive market makes a gradual recovery from COVID-19 and its lockdown protocols, sales have started to improve. However, figures are substantially lower than that in pre-COVID months though way better than April 2020 which returned virtually zero domestic sales.
In the meantime, major automakers have introduced online sales platforms as a safe and socially distanced option to buy a new product. To encourage potential buyers to make the shift to such ‘digital showrooms’, manufacturers are also offering exclusive online benefits such as discounts, quick finance options, doorstep test drives or delivery, etc.
Existing dealerships would only benefit through the respective brand’s online platform since the user would be redirected to the nearest or preferred dealer at the end. Once the purchase is made, the vehicle will be delivered in a safe and sanitised environment. OEMs are still trying everything to clock better numbers on monthly sales charts. If we take the C-segment sedan category in June 2020, 3,159 units were sold as against 8,236 units back in the same month, a year ago. This is a difference of 5,077 units or 61.64%.
C Segment Sedan Sales June 2020
Hyundai Motor India’s Verna, which received a facelift amid the lockdown, is the only entrant to clock four-digit sales figures. The South Korean automaker sold 1,083 units last month in comparison to 2,271 units back in June 2019 (down by 52.31%). Following it is Honda Car India’s fourth-gen City at just 585 units compared to 76.23% more in June 2019.
There are no surprises here since the Japanese brand is almost ready with the ‘5th Gen Honda City’ and potential buyers are eagerly waiting for the same. For a brief period, dealerships would sell both the fifth- and fourth-gen Honda City BS6 models alongside. Only the new model (a total revamp over its predecessor) comes in a BS6 diesel avatar.
Skoda Auto’s entry-level product, Rapid registered 577 units in June 2020 and went down by a marginal difference of 5.72%. It managed to overtake Maruti Suzuki’s Ciaz by 24 units. The Maruti Suzuki NEXA sedan faced a massive sales decline of 76.18% from 2,322 units in June 2019. It is quite uncommon to see a Maruti Suzuki product fall behind three rivals or alternatives on the sales chart.
Volkswagen India’s Vento shares its internals with the Skoda Rapid BS6. It returned 282 units in June 2020 compared to 449 units or 37.19% more in June 2019. At the last position sits Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s Yaris. Only 79 units were sold last month in comparison to a relatively better sales count of 121 units in June 2019.
