Maruti, Mahindra lead Indian carmakers’ December sales to dealers
Live MintBy Meenakshi Maidas and Nandan Mandayam -Indian carmakers Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors reported a rise in sales to domestic dealers in December on steady sport utility vehicle demand, while year-end discounts helped Maruti Suzuki record its first small-car sales growth in 20 months, company data showed. Market leader Maruti Suzuki's domestic sales rose 24% in December and Mahindra & Mahindra clocked a 16% jump, the two companies reported on Wednesday. The top three spots for Maruti have been taken by hatchbacks in December, which has done better numbers, Partho Banerjee, head of marketing and sales at Maruti said in a monthly sales call. However, Hyundai Motor India continued to face heat from competition, with domestic sales dropping 1.3% in December, its second straight monthly drop.