From a budget family hatchback to a large mighty 7-seater SUV, the Indian car market has a car for every need. In a country as large as India, this market is full of opportunities as well as challenges and several car brands compete for the biggest piece of the pie. Last month, with nearly 3.21 lakh cars sold, the industry saw an 11 percent growth as compared to the sale of December last year and an 8.6 percent decline as compared to the sales of November 2024. Here is what the complete best-selling car brand chart looks like for December 2024.
Manufacturer | December Sales- 2024 | December Sales- 2023 | Y-O-Y Growth | Market Share |
Maruti Suzuki | 1,30,115 | 1,04,778 | 24.20% | 40.50% |
Tata Motors | 44,221 | 43,471 | 1.70% | 13.80% |
Hyundai | 42,208 | 42,750 | -1.30% | 13.10% |
Mahindra | 41,424 | 35,171 | 17.80% | 12.90% |
Toyota Kirloskar | 24,887 | 21,372 | 16.40% | 7.70% |
Kia | 8,957 | 12,536 | -28.50% | 2.80% |
MG Motor | 7,516 | 4,400 | 70.80% | 2.30% |
Honda | 6,825 | 7,902 | -13.60% | 2.10% |
Volkswagen | 4,787 | 4,390 | -2.90% | 1.50% |
Skoda | 4,554 | 4,670 | -2.50% | 1.40% |
Maruti Suzuki: 1,30,115 units
The Maruti Suzuki has been the number one carmaker in India for a long time and still is the invincible leader of this game. With the largest car line-up and most extensive service network Maruti operates at a far larger scale as compared to that of any other carmaker. This often helps Maruti sell more cars than the combined sales of the next three carmakers. In December 2024, Maruti sold 1,30,115 units, once again emerging as the industry leader while its year-on-year sales grew 24.2 percent. With such sales, Maruti managed to place seven of its cars among the top 10 selling cars in India. Maruti Suzuki’s six-pack of Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, and Wagon R collectively contributed a total of 54,946 units sold which makes for nearly 43 percent of the gross Maruti sales.
Also read: Top selling cars in India
Tata Motors: 44,221 units
Recording sales of 44,221 units in December 2024, Tata Motors overtook Hyundai to grab the position of the second-largest automaker, with a 1.7 percent rise in its year-on-year sales. The Indian carmaker has radically grown and built itself as an esteemed global brand in the last few years. What powered this sudden rise was a new vision that spiked the premium quotient of Tata’s cars and made them some of the most good-looking cars in India.
Today, Tata is the only car brand in India, which has all its cars tested by the Global NCAP. While the Tigor and Tiago have scored a 4-star G-NCAP rating, which is respectable, the rest all have scored a 5-star G-NCAP rating and are recognized as some of the safest cars in India. With a formidable dominance in the ICE segment, Tata is also ruling the EV arena with five EVs on offer: Tata Nexon EV, Tata Tigor EV, Tata Tiago EV, Tata Curvv EV, and Tata Punch EV. Moreover, after Maruti Suzuki, Tata has the second-largest line-up of CNG-powered cars with five of its cars available in CNG variants.
Also read: Top selling compact SUVs in India
Hyundai: 42,208 units
If there is one carmaker which is trusted as much as Maruti, if not more, it is Hyundai, the longest-running foreign carmaker in India. Its fashionable cars come with an abundance of features and refined as well as dependable engines. What adds another layer of attraction is the competitive prices that Hyundai sets for its cars, drawing thousands of buyers to its dealerships every month.
As per the latest sales chart, Hyundai sold 42,208 cars in December 2024, seeing a 1.3 percent decline in the sales that it did during the corresponding month in 2023. All the same, with the year’s closure, the Korean carmaker recorded the highest-ever sales in India in the calendar year 2024 with wholesales of 6,05,433 units. Meanwhile, Hyundai SUVs contributed 29,452 units, which was nearly 68 percent of its gross sales as Creta led the pack followed by Venue and Exter. Moreover, the Hyundai Creta became the best-selling SUV yet again and is the only Hyundai car to reach among the top 10 selling cars.
Mahindra: 41,424 units
In December 2024, Mahindra continued steady sales and sold 41,424 units, gaining a 17.8 percent growth in its year-on-year sales. In current times, the demand for SUVs is burgeoning and Mahindra, esteemed for making capable SUVs, stands out as the largest SUV manufacturer. Today, Mahindra has all SUVs in its portfolio and no car of any other body type. Two of these cars, the Mahindra Scorpio and Mahindra Bolero have earned legendary status in India and always remain in high demand.
Mahindra has recently launched two radical electric SUVs: the Mahindra XEV 9e and Mahindra BE 6. Loaded with modern tech, both SUVs offer excellent driving range. On full charge, the Mahindra XEV 9e can drive up to 656 km, while the Mahindra BE 6 can drive up to 682 km.
Also read: Top selling SUVs in India
Toyota Kirloskar: 24,887 units
In India, the popular Japanese carmaker, Toyota has been around for nearly 24 years and has garnered a reputation for making perennially durable cars. In December 2024, Toyota maintained its fifth spot on this list with sales of 24,87 units, gaining a 16.4 percent year-on-year growth. As usual, the sales were led by the Innova MUV which sold 9,700 units. Toyota sells two MUVs under the Innova badge; one is the hugely successful Innova Crysta and the other is an even more premium version, Innova Hycross that was launched in December 2022 and has turned out to be a ground-breaking success.
Kia: 8,957 units
Hyundai’s subsidiary, Kia is a relatively new carmaker in India and yet it competes neck-to-neck with the long-established Toyota for the fifth spot. Kia is known for equipping its cars with as many upmarket features as possible and refined engines. Every month, Kia puts up a respectable number on the sales chart, but the previous month was different. While Kia managed to retain the title of the sixth largest carmaker with sales of 8,957 units, the Korean carmaker saw a 28 percent decline in its year-on-year sales. Nonetheless, the Kia Sonet once again was the best-selling Kia car as it sold 3,337 units. The Seltos, Carens, Carnival, and EV6 followed it by selling 2,830 units, 2,626 units, 103 units, and 61 units respectively.
MG Motor: 7,516 units
As a relatively new foreign brand in India, MG Motors is gradually garnering consumer affinity. The main strength of MG cars lies in a higher level of comfort and technology than its rivals. This makes them rise above the competition when it comes to attracting buyers who fancy new-age features and the best levels of comfort. In the fierce competition of the Indian car market, MG rivals some highly reputed and far-longer-running carmakers such as Honda and Volkswagen. Last month, MG managed to outsell many of its immediate rivals, with sales of 7,516 units, which is a walloping 70.8 percent growth in its year-on-year sales. Currently, MG has 7 cars in its stable: MG Astor, MG Hector, MG Hector Plus, MG Gloster, MG ZS EV, MG Winsor EV, and the MG Comet EV.
Also read: Top selling hatchbacks in India
Honda: 6825 units
One of the veteran foreign carmakers in India, Honda currently has a handful of cars in its portfolio. However, this is a fact about quantity, not quality. As always, Honda cars are some of the best cars in the Indian market. While the Honda Elevate SUV and the iconic Honda City sedan are great options as premium family cars, the Honda Amaze is more of a capable budget family sedan. In December 2024, Amaze led Honda’s sales, contributing 3,708 units, followed by Elevate contributing 2,334 units, and City contributing 783 units. In total, Honda sold 6,825 units with a 13.6 percent decline in its year-on-year sales.
Volkswagen: 4,787 units
The prestigious Volkswagen Group has long been operating in India and has built a reputation for its unmatchable quality. Whether it is the toughness of the bodies, cabin comfort, or the reliability of engines, Volkswagen cars shine differently than others due to the globally acclaimed standards of the German carmakers. With only three cars on offer, Volkswagen collected sales of 4,787 units in December 2024, seeing a 2.9 percent decline in its year-on-year sales. The sales were led by the Taigun contributing 2,335 units, followed by the Virtus selling 2,257 units, and the Tiguan selling 195 units. Moreover, while Virtus and Kushaq scored a 5-star G-NCAP safety rating, the Tiguan has secured a 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP safety test.
Skoda: 4,554 units
Coming from an auto conglomerate that houses luxury brands like Porsche and Audi at the higher end, Skoda cars have a premium air about them. Whether it is the toughness of the structures, cabin comfort, or the reliability of engines, Skoda cars bring unparalleled quality. Today, among the three Skoda offerings that are on sale in India, the Kushaq and Slavia have been conferred a 5-star safety rating by the Global NCAP and Kodiaq has scored a 5-star safety rating in the Euro NCAP test. The sales of 4,554 units in December 2024 might not seem a great business, but with only three cars on sale, the Czech automaker has comfortably managed to bag a spot among the best-selling car brands.
