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Featured

Hyundai Creta Still The Sales Favourite Ahead Of Maruti Grand Vitara In August 2023

The segment, on the whole, witnessed total sales of close to 60,000 units

Compact SUVs August 2023 sales

In August 2023, there were three compact SUVs that registered total sales of over 10,000 units. As seen frequently, the Hyundai Creta was once again the leader of the pack, with close to 14,000 units sold. The segment, too, witnessed an overall month-on-month (MoM) growth of more than 12 percent.

Compact SUVs and crossovers

August 2023

July 2023

MoM Growth

Market share current(%)

Market share (% last year)

YoY mkt share (%)

Average sales (6 months)

Hyundai Creta

13832

14062

-1.63

23.66

41.69

-18.03

13599

Maruti Grand Vitara

11818

9079

30.16

20.21

0

20.21

9235

Kia Seltos

10698

9740

9.83

18.3

28.68

-10.38

6527

Mahindra Scorpio

9898

10522

-5.93

16.93

23.39

-6.46

8974

Toyota Hyryder

4121

3387

21.67

7.04

0

7.04

3116

Honda Elevate

2822

0

0

4.82

0

0

0

Skoda Kushaq

2409

2394

0.62

4.12

6.21

-2.09

2068

Volkswagen Taigun

1943

1908

1.83

3.32

3.37

-0.05

1726

MG Astor

914

954

-4.19

1.56

4.38

-2.82

885

Total

58455

52046

12.31

99.96

Takeaways

Hyundai Creta

  • The Hyundai Creta remains the most popular choice in this segment, with more than 13,800 units sold. However, its year-on-year (YoY) market share went down by the biggest margin, of over 18 percent thanks to new competitors since.

  • With close to 12,000 units shipped, the Maruti Grand Vitara leapfrogged from the fourth spot in July to second place in August, witnessing the highest MoM growth of over 30 percent.

Kia Seltos

  • Over 10,500 units of the new Kia Seltos were retailed in August, making it the final model on this list whose sales crossed the 10,000-unit mark. The Kia SUV’s market share stood at over 18 percent, 10 percent less than the year before.

  • Following the Kia Seltos closely was the Mahindra Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic duo, still listed as one in the sales charts, with nearly 9,900 units sold. Their MoM figures diminished by around 6 percent while both the models cumulatively had a market share close to 17 percent.

Toyota Hyryder

  • The Toyota Hyryder, the Maruti Grand Vitara’s cousin, had a decent outing in August sales as the carmaker shipped 4,000-odd units of the SUV. Its MoM figures saw an uptick of almost 22 percent.

  • Honda dispatched slightly more than 2,800 units of the Elevate SUV in August. While its launch only took place in September (with deliveries starting only after), expect those numbers to rise in the coming months.

  • The Skoda Kushaq–Volkswagen Taigun duo failed to go past the 2,500-unit mark individually. Both the models had a market share of under 5 percent each.

Also Read: Skoda Introduces More Affordable Mid-spec Variants of Kushaq And Slavia

  • With less than 1,000 units sold, the MG Astor took the last spot on the sales chart in August. Its MoM demand dipped by more than 4 percent.

Read More on : Hyundai Creta Automatic

Motorsport

Federal Government Pushes for More Seat Belt Warning Systems in Vehicles

In the pursuit of road safety, seat belts have consistently played a crucial role in protecting lives. These simple yet lifesaving devices have evolved over time and have proven to be instrumental in reducing injuries and preventing fatalities. Recognizing their significance, the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing a new rule that would make seat belt use warning systems mandatory.

Despite widespread awareness of the importance of seat belts, there is still a pressing need to increase usage. To tackle this challenge, the NHTSA is proposing a rule that would require advanced seat belt warning systems in passenger cars, trucks, most buses, and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less. This rule goes beyond the existing seat belt warning system by mandating visual and audible alerts not just for the driver’s seat but also for other seating positions.

The statistics are alarming: in 2021, nearly 43,000 lives were lost on US roads, with half of those fatalities occurring in unbelted vehicles. If implemented, the proposed rule could serve as a powerful measure to counter this grim reality. By enhancing seat belt warning systems, the goal of the NHTSA is to foster a culture of safety and responsibility, urging individuals to always buckle up for their own protection.

It is important to emphasize that seat belts have a proven track record of reducing the risk of fatality and injury. The NHTSA estimates that the proposed requirements could prevent approximately 300 non-fatal injuries and over 100 fatalities each year. While seat belt usage rates have improved significantly over the past decade, there is still room for improvement, especially for rear-seat passengers who consistently have lower usage rates compared to front-seat occupants.

Just recently, the NHTSA introduced another significant proposition by requiring automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems in passenger vehicles. Building on this progress, the agency’s vision extends to include heavy-duty trucks and buses, which have a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 10,000 pounds. This expansion could have a tremendous impact, estimated to save 155 lives annually and prevent 8,814 injuries. This technology-driven approach aims to address the high number of rear-end crashes, targeting over 19,000 incidents involving heavy-duty vehicles every year.

Motorsport

Bugatti EB112 Turns 30 As Four-Door Supercar That Never Went Into Production

The Bugatti EB112 was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1993, captivating the automotive industry with its striking design and innovative features. Even though it never made it to mass production, its impact is still felt 30 years later. The EB112 featured an all-aluminum body and carbon fiber chassis, which it shared with the EB110 sports car.

Initially, the unconventional aesthetics of the four-door supercar received mixed reviews. However, it soon gained recognition and was even hailed as “The most beautiful car in the world” by Automobile Magazine upon its debut. Unfortunately, due to the bankruptcy of Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. in 1995, the EB112 remained just a concept car. Nevertheless, it played a significant role in shaping Bugatti’s modern-day design and aesthetic components.


Motorsport

Caterham Project V: Audi TT Parts and Maserati Seats

The Caterham Project V made its debut at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed, and it was one of the most significant reveals of the event. Although currently a one-off model, Caterham plans to launch a production version of the car by late 2025 or early 2026. This unique vehicle stands out from other Caterham models as it is an all-electric coupe with 2+1 seating (optionally 2+2) developed by Italdesign.

Being a small brand, Caterham faces challenges in developing car parts, as is the case for niche automakers. To streamline the engineering process and reduce costs without compromising quality, the Project V has adopted some components from well-established brands. Interestingly, the car features the same door aperture as the Audi TT, and its slim seats are sourced from Maserati. While these details were not initially disclosed during the car’s debut on July 12, the company’s CEO has now revealed them.


Featured

Car News That Mattered This Week (July 17-21): New Launch And Updates, Price Hikes, Spy Shots And More


The past week witnessed the launch of the Kia Seltos facelift, while Tata also hiked the prices of its internal combustion engine (ICE) models.

Last week, Kia announced the prices of its facelifted compact SUV, while Maruti made some feature revisions to the Brezza and Grand Vitara. During the same period, Tata introduced a new variant of its premium hatchback, while a new Citroen model’s test mule was also caught on camera for the first time. Let’s take a look at all the important highlights of the week.

Kia Seltos Facelift Launched

2023 Kia Seltos

The Korean carmaker launched the Seltos facelift in India. The refreshed compact SUV sports comprehensive changes inside and out, while being equipped with more safety tech. We have also detailed the difference between the 2023 Seltos and its previous iteration, and compared its prices with those of its segment rivals.

Maruti Brezza And Grand Vitara Feature Updates

Maruti has rejigged some features of its subcompact SUV, the Brezza. Its CNG variant now misses out on some safety features. Also, the strong-hybrid variants of the Maruti Grand Vitara now get a pedestrian alert system known as acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS).

Tata Cars Become Dearer

Tata Safari, Nexon and Tiago

Some internal combustion engine (ICE) Tata models have received an upward price revision, with SUVs being subjected to the maximum hike.. The Indian carmaker has also recently introduced a new mid-spec variant of the Tata Altroz which comes with some new features, including one that almost every buyer today desires.

Fisker Ocean To Launch Soon In India

Fisker Ocean

American EV maker, Fisker, has confirmed that it will soon launch the Ocean’s Extreme Vigyan Edition in India. Initially, a limited number of EVs will be allocated as a part of homologation.

Toyota Hilux Inducted Into The Indian Army’s Fleet

Toyota Hilux inducted into the Indian Army fleet

After conducting rigorous terrain and weather tests, the Indian army has added the Toyota Hilux to its Northern Command fleet range. The Hilux is based on the Fortuner’s body-on-frame chassis and offers hardcore 4X4 capabilities, something that our men in camouflage will definitely appreciate.

Goa And EVs

In a NITI Aayog event during the fourth Energy Transitions Working Group Meeting under India’s G20 Presidency in Panaji, the Goa CM Pramod Sawant announced that all newly registered tourist vehicles in Goa will be electric from 2024.

New Citroen Car Spied In India

Citroen C3X Crossover Spied

Citroen is working on a new crossover sedan – probably the C3X – and one of its test mules was recently spotted on the Indian roads for the first time. 

Read More on : Seltos Automatic

Featured

Car News That Mattered This Week (July 3-7): New Launches, Bookings, Spy Shots, and More


The first week of July witnessed two highly anticipated product introductions from Maruti and Kia, while Honda also opened its order books for the upcoming compact SUV in India

Honda Elevate

Last week, Maruti and Kia made headlines in India with the unveiling of their new products. Skoda and Volkswagen also launched new variants of the Kushaq and Virtus. Honda started accepting orders for its upcoming compact SUV, and Tata’s unique marketing technique drew attention.

Let’s have a look at all the major highlights of the week:

Maruti Invicto Goes On Sale

Maruti has launched the Invicto, a premium MPV based on the Toyota Innova Hycross, in India. The Invicto is available in limited variants and comes with a single powertrain option. We’ve also provided details about the Invicto’s color options and waiting period in four major cities.

Kia Seltos Facelift Debuted In India

Kia has debuted the Seltos facelift in India, featuring updated looks and an enhanced list of features. Although its prices are yet to be announced, customers will soon be able to reserve one. We have also compared the 2023 Seltos with its outgoing version in images and provided detailed information about its variant-wise color and transmission options here.

You Can Now Reserve Honda Elevate

Customers can now reserve Honda’s upcoming compact SUV, the Elevate, ahead of its official launch. The carmaker has also revealed the delivery timelines for the same. The Elevate will be Honda’s first brand new offering in India in almost seven years. Customers can book the Elevate in a range of color options, as described in this story.

Skoda Kushaq Now Gets New Exterior Shade

Skoda has added a new limited edition matte carbon steel shade color option to the Kushaq, following Volkswagen’s launch of updated GT Line variants in a new exterior shade.

Volkswagen Virtus Gets a New Variant

Volkswagen has introduced another entry-level DCT trim for the Virtus GT Line variant, shortly after launching a more affordable GT Line manual variant. This variant can be distinguished from the higher GT Plus based on certain exterior and interior features.

Tata’s Unique Marketing For Altroz CNG

Tata has showcased the Altroz CNG’s increased boot space in an interesting manner through its marketing approach. The Altroz is the recent addition to Tata’s CNG lineup and features a twin cylinder technology with two CNG cylinders placed under the boot floor.

Volkswagen Taigun Crash Tested Again

The Volkswagen Taigun, which has already been tested at Global NCAP, has now undergone testing at Latin NCAP as well. The compact SUV performed well in terms of safety.

Hyundai Creta Facelift Spied

The test mule of the Hyundai Creta facelift has been spied for the first time in India. The spy images reveal some changes on the exterior, which are detailed here.

Read More on : Invicto Automatic

Featured

Car News Roundup: New Teasers, Updates on Upcoming Cars, Spy Shots, and More


This week in car news: New teaser from Kia, updates on upcoming cars, recall announcement, and more

In the final week of June, there were several notable events in the automotive world. Kia released a new teaser for an upcoming compact SUV, and Skoda provided updates on its flagship SUV. Additionally, there was news of a potential increase in highway toll prices. Let’s take a closer look at the major headlines from the week.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny Heading to Australia

Maruti Jimny

The popular 5-door Maruti Suzuki Jimny, already available in India, will soon be launched in Australia. While specific details about the Australian version are currently limited, it is expected to offer an improved safety features package compared to the Indian model.

First Teaser Released for 2023 Kia Seltos

Facelifted Kia Seltos DRLs

Ahead of its India debut, Kia released the first teaser for the facelifted version of the Seltos. The teaser provided a detailed look at the updated interior, which closely resembles the international variant of the compact SUV.

Recall Announced for Kia Carens

Kia Carens

Kia issued a recall for certain units of the Carens due to a potential software issue in one of its electronic components. The affected owners will be directly notified by the carmaker. This is the second recall for the Kia MPV within a year.

New Details Revealed for 2024 Skoda Kodiaq

2024 Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda is gearing up to globally unveil the second-generation Kodiaq. Prior to the official reveal, the Czech automaker released new details about the SUV, including a wide range of powertrain options.

Milestones Achieved

This week, two popular Indian SUVs reached significant production and sales milestones. Mahindra celebrated the production of the 9 lakhth Scorpio unit, while Tata announced that the Nexon EV had achieved 50,000 unit sales in India.

Update on 5-Door Mahindra Thar Unveiling

There have been rumors circulating on the internet about the 5-door version of the Mahindra Thar making its debut on August 15 in South Africa. However, Mahindra has clarified the situation and provided an update on the unveiling of the 5-door variant.

Spy Shots Unveiled

Last week’s spy shots featured two upcoming SUVs: the facelifted Kia Seltos and the Tata Punch EV. New images of the Tech Line variants of the updated Seltos were leaked, providing a glimpse of its interior. Additionally, spy shots showcased the revamped interior of the Tata Punch EV.

Toll Prices Set to Increase

Toll Plaza

Unfortunately, road trips are set to become more expensive as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to raise toll prices annually. The increased toll fees will allow NHAI to recover its debts at a faster rate.

Featured

Hyundai Creta continues to dominate compact SUV sales, as Kia Seltos experiences a major decline


Maruti Grand Vitara records the largest growth in sales

In May 2023, compact SUV sales dropped by 4.8% compared to April 2023. Out of all the models, the Hyundai Creta was the only one to sell more than 10,000 units, while Kia Seltos had the highest decline of over 40% in monthly sales.

Here’s a breakdown of the compact SUV sales in May 2023:

Compact SUVs & crossovers
 

May 2023

April 2023

MoM Growth

Market share current(%)

Market share (% last year)

YoY mkt share (%)

Average sales (6 months)

Hyundai Creta

14449

14186

1.85

33.17

47.54

-14.37

12866

Mahindra Scorpio

9318

9617

-3.1

21.39

18.83

2.56

7921

Maruti Grand Vitara

8877

7742

14.66

20.37

0

20.37

7706

Kia Seltos

4065

7213

-43.64

9.33

25.79

-16.46

7921

Toyota Hyryder

3090

2616

18.11

7.09

0

7.09

3485

Skoda Kushaq

1685

2162

-22.06

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