Creta’s feat in May could be a mere exception to its huge booking backlog, but it signals the strength of Indian customers’ propensity to spend on bigger-better vehicles in harsh times. The numbers feat is only based on the deliveries made in May, which were originally either sold or booked before May and pre-Covid-19 time.
Creta signals the change in times where customers are going beyond price and body shape and making Indians’ aspirants for safer and better cars.
New Delhi: Creta is the largest retailed model in May. Its historic in itself as for the first time an SUV has replaced hatchback as the bestseller in the country signalling inherent vigor of the Indian consumer.
It also spells a strong signal of changing times when the Korean might is growing against the rival Japanese dominance and a lesson for Indian players who pioneered the launch of SUVs in the exponential India, but lost the way somehow.
Industry data for May shows that mid-size SUV consisting of models like Creta, Seltos, Scorpio and Hector remained the highest sold with around 6,822 units sold.
India is primarily the market for small and compact cars and of late the compact sedans that combine the convenience of affordable small sedans hidden in the price of premium hatchbacks as a perfect value buy. But no longer. It’s the SUV that is gaining wider acceptance and has been the best seller across segments and comes across as the coming of age of the Indian market.
Their share is surging and has been on a constant growth. In fact the success of Kia Motor, another Korean company comes at the back of its SUV Seltos that has made it the fourth largest carmaker in India, helping it to nudge past bigger global rivals like Toyota Motor and Honda Car India.
Industry data for May shows that mid-size SUV consisting of models like Creta, Seltos, Scorpio and Hector remained the highest sold with around 6,822 units sold which were higher than the traditionally sold 5500 premium hatchbacks units or the 4300 regular hatchbacks sold last month.
Creta signals the change in times where customers are going beyond price and body shape and making Indians’ aspirants for safer and better cars. Launched on 21st July, 2015, the 1st generation Creta has generated a total sale of more than 6.5 lakh units since inception (domestic over 4.6 lakh + exports over 1.9 lakh units) speaking of its global success.
Also Read: Top 10 Passenger Vehicles sold in May 2020
In May 2020 Creta became India’s No.1 brand for the local unit of the Korean car company with a retail of 3212 units. However, it is to note that this could be an exception under the current circumstances. The mentioned number takes the total deliveries made for the month of May into account which means they were sold or booked before May and pre-Covid-19 times. The company could not confirm the total number of bookings it received in May.
Creta SUV market share in Hyundai’s portfolio:
Category CY2018 CY2019 January February March April May
2020 2020 2020 2020 2020
Creta share in product
portfolio 21.98% 19.54% 16.4% 1.7% 25.4% - 46.6%
Source: ETAuto research
According to industry veterans Hyundai Creta elevated competition in the SUV segment by encompassing ‘Sportiness, Advanced Features and Perfection’. It changed the overall perception of SUVs in India and created a niche for itself taking the niche from compact hatchback cars.
The closest to Creta as the May’s bestseller is also a big vehicle, a Maruti Ertiga MPV almost size similar to the numero uno~
The closest to Creta as the May’s bestseller is also a big vehicle, a Maruti Ertiga MPV almost size similar to the numero uno. Does it signal the coming of age of bigger vehicles in a market dominated by smaller cars and hatchbacks?
“Quite true. May is not an aberration. It might be an expectation to have an SUV topseller, but shows that propensity to buy bigger, better designed cars with higher safety quotient. Times are changing and so is India,” says Amit Kaushik, Managing Director with Urban Science, a US based consultancy firm. “These new age vehicles offer a powerful and dominating presence on the road. These products are a blend of futuristic design and cutting edge technology, seamlessly bringing together all the right elements for the modern day buyer.”
The market is going through a rough patch and the growth of SUV comes at a time when the industry needs rejuvenation to come back at a faster trail. Hope June brings better surprises with the high ticket purchases and keeps the momentum going. Well done Creta for bringing cheers in troubled times to the automobile industry.
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