Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has kicked off the new fiscal year with a historic performance, reporting its highest-ever monthly sales in April 2026.

The company dispatched a staggering 239,646 units, bolstered by a significant resurgence in the small car segment and a relentless push in the SUV space.

During a post-sales conference, Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India and Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India highlighted a shifting landscape where traditional entry-level models are finding new life alongside the company’s aggressive EV and SUV expansion.

In a notable shift from recent industry trends, Maruti’s Mini segment (including Alto, Celerio, S-Presso and WagonR) witnessed a massive 253.7 percent growth. The overall small car category grew by 74.4 percent YoY, a surge management attributed to ‘unlocking’ production capacity that was previously constrained.

"As we had capacity to increase production, the sales of the mini segment have grown, especially from people upgrading from two-wheelers to passenger vehicles," noted Banerjee.

Simultaneously, the SUV portfolio reached an all-time high of 55,062 units. The newly launched Victoris has become a standout performer, clocking 13,700 sales last month and becoming the fastest model to hit the 50,000-unit milestone in India.

Maruti Suzuki India confirmed that SUVs now account for 30 percent of its total portfolio, and the company is closing in on the ‘pole position’ in the segment. Interestingly, the automaker’s other portfolio continues to grow as well.

CNG, EV Momentum and defying global headwinds

Sustainability and fuel efficiency continue to drive volumes. April saw the highest monthly CNG sales at 76,348 units. Remarkably, 4 out of every 10 cars sold by Maruti were now CNG-powered.

On the other hand, Maruti Suzuki India’s first electric SUV, the e-Vitara, saw 2,006 units domestic sales in April. Banerjee revealed that 85 percent of demand is skewed toward the higher 61kW variant. Full-scale production capacity is expected to be reached by the June-July window.

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia and uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz, Maruti’s exports grew by 43.3 percent to 40,054 units.

Bharti emphasised a de-risking strategy, stating that leadership is about ‘growing exports with or without the war.’

The Jimny emerged as the star of the export stable, with 6,938 units shipped, primarily to Japan, making it the company’s highest-exported model for the month.

Focus on unlocking capacities

Going forward, Maruti Suzuki India remains upbeat on the remainder of the year, with on-ground stock remaining lean at 16-17 days as of May 1st.

At present, the focus is on unlocking and streamlining capacities with a massive pending booking list of 165,000 units, with the Ertiga remaining a key focus for ‘debottlenecking.’

Rural markets now contribute 52.3 percent of total sales, growing at 39 percent as Maruti penetrates deeper into the hinterlands.

Addressing the future of the Ignis, management hinted at a strategic refresh. While current production has ceased, the brand is expected to return in a ‘different avatar’ to meet evolving customer needs.

Overall, Banerjee expects the total industry volume (TIV) for April to land between 445,000 units and 450,000 units, a significant jump from 350,000 units last year. While rising fuel prices remain a potential threat to small car growth, the management remains bullish, citing ‘Triple Tailwinds’ – GST 2.0, income tax relief and reduced repo rates – as the primary drivers for a strong FY2027.

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Škoda Auto India has expanded its Gujarat network with three new Customer Touchpoints in Ahmedabad and Himmatnagar, developed in collaboration with PPS Motors Pvt. Ltd. The additions comprise a sales and service hub at Naroda, a sales-only outlet at Maninagar and a Compact 3S facility in Himmatnagar, reinforcing the automaker’s footprint in western India.

The Naroda site spans 26,700 square feet, accommodating six display cars, 19 service bays and an Express Care Bay for swift repairs. Maninagar’s 4,800-square-foot showroom houses seven vehicles, while Himmatnagar’s 10,600-square-foot compact centre features four display cars and four service bays. All facilities adhere to the Modern Solid global design language, ensuring a premium customer environment.

With this rollout, Škoda Auto India’s Gujarat presence now totals 25 touchpoints across 16 cities, including Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Gandhinagar, among others. The new outlets are positioned to deliver comprehensive sales and after-sales support, aligning with the brand’s regional growth strategy.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, said, “With the inauguration of these new facilities in Gujarat, we continue to strengthen Škoda Auto India’s presence across the state and the western region of India. Ahmedabad alone has five Customer Touchpoints now operational, and we are bringing our complete product range closer to customers while ensuring they experience the highest standards of service and care. Gujarat remains a vital pillar of India's growth, and with the Kylaq, new Kushaq, Kodiaq and Slavia, we are confident of growing the Škoda brand in this important market.”

Rajiv Sanghvi, Dealer Principal, PPS Motors Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are proud to strengthen our partnership with Škoda through the inauguration of these new touchpoints. This marks our entry into Gujarat and a significant milestone in our expansion across Western India. With 28 Škoda Auto-PPS Customer Touchpoints across Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and now Gujarat, this expansion reflects our shared commitment to delivering a premium customer experience across every stage of the ownership journey. By combining Škoda Auto's advanced products and customer-centric philosophy with PPS Group's automotive expertise spanning more than 75 years, we are committed to delivering a best-in-class ownership experience while establishing a strong Škoda Auto presence in the region.”

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PPS Motors has inaugurated a new Mahindra touchpoint in Pune, further solidifying its presence within Maharashtra as part of a broader strategy to enhance customer accessibility and service quality. The facility was officially opened in the presence of senior officials from Mahindra & Mahindra, including Aman Malik, National Sales Head; Gaurav Beohar, Zonal Sales Head (West); Prabhakar Jakkan, Regional Sales Manager; Pakshal Shah, Chief of Staff, PPS Group, marking a significant collaboration between the two organisations.

Located strategically on East Street in Camp, the newly established 3,600 sft showroom is engineered to offer a premium and immersive customer journey. The space can accommodate up to five vehicles simultaneously, displaying Mahindra’s full range of passenger vehicles, which includes both internal combustion engine and electric options. Every aspect of the dealership, from its modern colour scheme and dynamic lighting to its intuitive technology, has been meticulously crafted to reflect progressive design and refined elegance, allowing visitors to explore breakthrough innovations such as the INGLO Electric Origin architecture and the advanced MAIA automotive mind.

This launch significantly bolsters PPS Motors’ extensive network, as the group now operates 149 Mahindra touchpoints across six states, including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The Camp location represents the eighth Mahindra facility in Pune, comprising seven showrooms and one workshop. Within just two years of commencing local operations, PPS-Mahindra has sold over 6,200 vehicles in the Pune region, and the group achieved approximately 41,500 Mahindra vehicle sales nationwide in FY 2026, cementing its status as the manufacturer’s largest sales and after-sales partner in India.

The expansion arrives amid robust regional automotive growth, with Pune’s passenger vehicle registrations rising to 74,814 units in 2025. Furthermore, Maharashtra has maintained its dominance in the electric vehicle sector, recording retail sales of 34,139 e-PVs in FY 2026, a remarkable 100 percent increase from the previous fiscal year, underscoring the growing consumer appetite for both conventional and electric mobility solutions in the state.

Rajiv Sanghvi, Dealer Principal, PPS Group, said, “We are delighted to inaugurate our 149th Mahindra touchpoint at the prestigious Camp location in Pune. This expansion reinforces our nearly seven-decade partnership with Mahindra, built on trust, shared growth and a relentless focus on customer satisfaction while further strengthening our position as its largest dealership partner in India, with around 41,500 vehicle sales in FY2026. With Mahindra’s future-ready products, customer-focused approach coupled with our deep understanding of the customer needs, we together endeavour to provide best-in-class ownership experience for our customers.”

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Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has opened bookings for the 2026 Brezza, which is set to be launched on 24 July 2026.

The SUV can be reserved at Maruti Suzuki ARENA showrooms or via the company website for an amount of INR 11,000. Since its launch in 2016, the company has sold over 1.4 million units of the Brezza.

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said, "Brezza's extraordinary journey since its introduction in 2016 has made it India’s highest selling compact SUV. In 10 Years, Brezza has won the trust of over 1.4 million customers which is a testament of its product supremacy and segment domination. In 2026, The new Brezza will represent a perfect synthesis of customer’s love and unlock a new dimension of excitement. We invite customers to book the new Brezza today and be among the first to experience it."

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced that the Carens SUV family has reached a cumulative sales milestone of 300,000 units, which includes the Carens, Carens Clavis and the Carens Clavis EV.

At present, the Carens lineup sales consist of 60 percent petrol, 30 percent diesel and 10 percent electric. The Carens Clavis EV is available with two battery capacities: a 51.4 kWh option providing a 490 km range and a 42 kWh option with a 404 km range. The EV features fast charging, capable of reaching 80 percent charge from 10 percent in 39 minutes, and is powered by motors delivering 255 Nm of torque.

Sunhack Park, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said, “The 300,000-unit milestone for the Carens underscores its position as a segment leader and a true gamechanger in the MPV space. This achievement is a direct result of our product-led strategy, our sharp understanding of customer needs, and our unwavering focus on quality. It strengthens our conviction that the Carens is the benchmark for its class, and we are energized to build on this momentum as we accelerate our growth journey."

Furthermore, for Carens the top trim levels account for 18 percent of total sales.

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