February Sees Surge in Vehicle Dispatches: Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors Lead the Charge

Strong Performance in Vehicle Dispatches

New Delhi: Major automobile manufacturers, including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Hyundai, have reported a notable increase in vehicle dispatches to dealers for February, driven by strong domestic demand.

Maruti Suzuki, the leader in the car market, announced that its domestic passenger vehicle sales reached 161,000 units last month, a slight increase from 160,791 units in February 2025.

The mini car segment, which includes models like Alto and S-Presso, saw a minor rise in sales to 10,238 units from 10,226 units during the same month last year.

Conversely, the compact car category, featuring Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, and WagonR, experienced a drop in sales, totaling 66,386 units compared to 72,942 units in February 2025.

In contrast, utility vehicle sales, which encompass Brezza, Ertiga, e-Vitara, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Invicto, Jimny, Victoris, and XL6, rose to 72,756 units, up from 65,033 units a year prior.

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer for Marketing and Sales at Maruti Suzuki, informed the media that the company is adjusting production levels to minimize waiting times across all models.

He highlighted that the automaker achieved record sales of 214,000 units in February, operating at over 100% capacity, with a new manufacturing line set to commence operations in April, leading to increased volumes from May onward.

Banerjee stated, "Domestic wholesales reached a record high of 164,000 for February, with retail sales climbing 12% to 151,000 units. Additionally, the network stock is low at 12 days, with 7 days in transit."

He also mentioned that the company's mid-SUV sales have doubled compared to last year, boosting its market share in that segment from 12.8% to 19%.

When asked about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer of Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki, responded, "We are closely monitoring the situation. However, our exposure to the Middle East as an export market is relatively low, accounting for about 12.5% of our total exports this year."

"In fact, with exports to nearly 100 countries, we have ensured our portfolio is well-diversified and inherently de-risked. It is during times like these that strong leadership is crucial. We are not only increasing exports but also broadening them to maintain a de-risked approach," he added.

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles reported a remarkable 34% increase in passenger vehicle dispatches, totaling 62,329 units last month, compared to 46,435 units in the same period last year.

Mahindra & Mahindra noted a 19% rise in utility vehicle sales in the domestic market, reaching 60,018 units compared to 50,420 units a year ago.

Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO of the Automotive Division at M&M, remarked that February's performance reflects "strong customer demand across the portfolio."

Hyundai Motor India reported a 10% year-on-year increase in domestic sales, reaching 52,407 units in February.

Tarun Garg, the company's MD and CEO, stated, "We started 2026 on a high note, achieving our highest-ever monthly sales in January, and the momentum has continued into February."

Toyota Kirloskar Motor announced a 16% growth in domestic sales, totaling 30,737 units last month, up from 26,414 units in February 2025.

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice President for Sales-Service-Used Car Business at Toyota, noted sustained demand across the company's product range.

Kia India also reported a 10% increase in sales, reaching 27,610 units last month compared to 25,026 units sold in February 2025.

In the two-wheeler segment, Hero MotoCorp experienced a significant 45% year-on-year rise in dispatches to dealers, totaling 516,968 units compared to 357,296 units.