Top 10 Selling Cars In December 2016 — Hyundai Eon Re-Enters The Competition!

10. Hyundai Eon

After nine months hiatus, Hyundai Eon makes a comeback to the top 10 selling cars list. The Korean automaker sold 6,790 units of the Eon for the month of December 2016 with an increase of 3 percent over the same period in 2015. The Eon was at the 10th position in December 2015 with sales of 6,563 units.

9. Maruti Suzuki Celerio

The Maruti Suzuki Celerio was one of the models to be affected by the demonetization with negative sales of 10 percent. India's largest car manufacturer sold 7,189 units in December 2016 compared to 8,019 units for the same period last year. Even the sales of the Celerio in November 2016 was 9,543 units and clearly affected by the demonetization drive.

8. Hyundai Elite i20

Hyundai's premium hatchback has been suffering sales in the last couple of months mainly because of competition from Maruti Baleno. Hyundai was able to sell 8,450 units in December 2016, while the company sold 10,379 units for the same period last year. This is a decline of 19 percent comparatively. However, it has risen from 9th position to the 8th position compared to November 2016.

7. Renault Kwid

Renault Kwid does not seem to be affected by the demonetization scheme as sales for the December 2016 stood at 8,797 compared to 6,888 units in the same month in 2015. The Kwid is the biggest performer on the list with 28 percent increase in sales. The Kwid even went up the list compared to November 2016.

6. Maruti Suzuki Baleno

The premium hatchback from Maruti Suzuki has been performing well in the market and is the most sought after hatchback in the segment. Maruti Suzuki sold 9,486 units in December 2016 compared to 10,572 units in the same period last year, registering a negative sale of 10 percent indicating the demonetizationaffecting its sales for December 2016.

5. Hyundai Grand i10

Hyundai Grand i10 has been facing severe competition yet it has managed to hold off many of its rivals. The Grand i10 is loaded with features and the assurance of quality from Hyundai makes it one of the best mid-hatchback cars in the segment. Hyundai sold 10,519 units in December 2016 compared to 12,749 units in 2015. The Hyundai Grand i10 registered a negative saleof 17 percent comparatively.

4. Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

The evergreen vehicle for Maruti Suzuki, the Wagon R sold 14,176 units in December 2016 compared to 14,645 units in the same month in 2015. This reflects that the Wagon R has been clearly affected by the demonetization drive, registering 3 percent decrease in sales and slipping position from 2nd to 4th.

3. Maruti Suzuki Swift

Maruti Suzuki Swift is another model which is consistent in sales for the country's largest car manufacturer. Despite the carmaker looking to launch the next-generation Swift in 2017, the current model is still a sought after car in the market. Maruti Suzuki sold 14,538 units in December registering 0.1 percent decline in sales compared the same period last year.

2. Maruti Suzuki DZire

Another model which was not affected by the demonetization drive is the Maruti Suzuki DZire. The company sold 14,643 units in December 2016 registering anincrease in sales by 11 percent. The Dzire even moved up the ladder from 4th to the current 2nd position in the top 10 selling cars in India for the month of December 2016. Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch the next-generation DZire in 2017 and it will only add to the misery of other sub-compactsedans in the market

1. Maruti Suzuki Alto

The Maruti Suzuki Alto brand is the best selling car for India and has been so for the year 2016. However, the Alto has been hit by the demonetization scheme with adecline in sales by 23 percent. The Alto has not only affected by the demonetization drive, there is a severe competition from the Renault Kwid and the Kwid been eating into the sales of Alto. Maruti Suzuki is expected to launch the next-generation Alto to counter the rising threat from its rivals.

Observation:

Most of the car sales in December 2016 seems to have been affected by the demonetization drive, but having said that models like Kwid, DZire and Eon seems to have broken past the barrier. Also, the humble Maruti Suzuki Alto has been facing stiff competition and time has come for the country's largest carmaker to overhaul the Alto range.