Sale of SUVs grew seven times faster than that of passenger cars in fiscal 2018, primarily due to the introduction of new models and changing lifestyles. According to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, more than 900,000 SUVs were sold in the last fiscal against 760,000 units in the previous year.
Germany’s BMW expects 50 percent of sales in India to come from its SUVs under its X series this fiscal. Market analysts expect this trend to get stronger since SUVs continue to remain favorites with Indian buyers. “SUVs are the order of the day, in line with global trends, and will continue to remain strong,” Rakesh Srivastava, director (sales & marketing) at Hyundai India, said.
The Jeep Compass, the first India-built SUV from Fiat Chrysler India priced at over $22,000, has seen a strong response. “We have already sold over 20,000 units in just eight months, and are working on new orders. This kind of demand demonstrates India’s market appetite for SUVs,” said a senior official at Fiat Chrysler.
Mercedes-Benz, gets nearly 35% of its sales from SUVs, “Indian customers have a penchant for SUVs and they are preferred for better road presence, proven off-road capabilities, practicality, and also for traveling with families,” Roland Folger, managing director & CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, said.
