Auto Sales In August 2024 Live: M&M SUVs Clock 16% Growth, Bajaj Auto Surges 18%

Total sales of Ashok Leyland Ltd. fell 7% year-on-year to 14,463 units in August 2024, as against 15,576 units in the year-ago period, according to an exchange filing on Monday.

• While domestic sales fell 8% YoY to 13,347 units

• Exports rose 8.25% YoY to 1,116 units

Total two-wheeler sales at Bajaj Auto Ltd. surged on the back of domestic demand even as exports were largely muted.

The Pulsar maker sold 3,35,178 motorcycles in August 2024 as against 2,85,031 units in the year-ago period—a growth of 18%. While domestic sales surged 30% to 2,08,621 units, exports rose 2% to 1,26,557 units, according to an exchange filing.

The company's three-wheeler sales, including exports that increased 41% to 17,420 units, rose 11% year-on-year to 62,626 units.

Overall, the Chakan, Pune-based shipped 3,97,804 units to dealerships, as against 3,41,648 units a year-ago, clocking a growth of 16%.

In Fiscal 2025 so far, overall sales grew 10% year-on-year to 18,54,029 units. This includes 15,83,636 two-wheelers (up 10%) and 2,70,393 three-wheelers (up 10%).

Tractor sales were flat at Escorts Kubota Ltd. in August 2024 as the full impact of the monsoon has yet to play out in India's agri sector.

The company shipped 5,205 units last month, as against 5,198 units in the year-ago period---a growth of 0.1% year-on-year, according to an exchange filing on Monday. Exports rose 3.5% year-on-year to 409 units.

"With the southwest monsoon progressing steadily, the replenishing water levels bode well for the rabi season. With continued government support for the sector, we anticipate demand to accelerate in the coming festive months," Escorts Kubota said in the exchange filing.

SUV sales at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. grew 16% year-on-year to 43,277 units in August 2025, as against 37,270 units in the year-ago period. The Scorpio maker exported 3,060 units, up 26% annually.

Among commercial vehicles, M&M's three-wheeler sales rose 32% year-on-year to 9,346 units. The company also dispatched to dealerships 21,092 units last month, as against 23,613 units a year-ago---a decline of 10.67% year-on-year.

Tractor sales, meanwhile, were largely muted. The company shipped 21,917 units last month as against 21,676 units a year-ago---a growth of just 1%, according to the exchange filing.

In August, M&M launched the Thar Roxx---the five-door iteration of the best-selling off-roader---at a starting price of Rs 12.99 lakh.

"With the Thar ROXX, we're setting our sights on making the Thar franchise the No. 1 SUV franchise (>12.5 Lakh segment) by volume within the next 3-5 years," Veejay Nakra, president of M&M's automotive division, said in a statement.

Total sales of VE Commercial Vehicles, a unit of Eicher Motors Ltd., rose 1% year-on-year to 6,543 units in August 2024, as against 6,476 units in the year-ago period, according to an exchange filing on Sunday.

• Domestic sales up 2% at 6,028 units

• Exports down 23.2% at 255 units

• Volvo sales up 9.7% at 260 units

VECV is a joint venture of India's Eicher Motors and Volvo AB of Sweden.

Total sales of Hero MotoCorp Ltd. rose 4.83% year-on-year to 5,12,360 units in August 2024 as against 4,88,717 units in the year-ago period, according to an exchange filing on Sunday.

The monthly sales were marginally impacted by supply shortages, which will be made up in September.

• Motorcycle sales up 5.75% at 478,215 units

• Scooter sales down 6.53% at 34,145 units

• Exports up 27.43% at 20,097 units

In Fiscal 2025 so far, sales are up by 32%, primarily due to higher offtake in the 125 cc segment led by the Xtreme 125R.

In August, sales of Vida electric scooters crossed the milestone of 6,000 monthly units for the first time. Hero MotoCorp now enjoys a retail market share of more than 5% in the electric two-wheeler space.

New Launches

Hero MotoCorp has launched the Glamour 2024 in the 125 cc segment. The motorcycle now gets LED headlights, hazard lights and stop-start switch for fuel-saving in stop-and-go traffic conditions.

Global Operations

During August, Hero MotoCorp commenced operations in the Philippines, where it plans to retail the Xpulse 200 4V, Hunk 160R 4V and Xoom 110 at more than 350 touchpoints.

Premiumisation

Hero MotoCorp, which now has six premium models—including the XPulse 200 4V, Karizma XMR 210, XTreme 200 and XTreme 125R and Mavrick 400, as well as the Harley-Davidson 440X—now has 40 Premia outlets in 35 cities across India.

With that, Hero MotoCorp is also gearing up for the festive season. India's largest two-wheeler maker is expecting a faster recovery in rural segment, 125 cc class as well as scooters, to grow faster than the industry.

Total sales of Royal Enfield motorcycles fell 5% year-on-year to 73,630 units in August 2024 from 77,583 units in the year-ago period, as its bread-and-butter 350 cc motorcycles saw fewer takers, yet again.

• 350 cc sales down 11% YoY at 61,087 units

• ⁠450/650 cc sales up 47% YoY at 12,542 units

• ⁠Exports down 2% YoY at 8,006 units

Royal Enfield has now gone ahead and launched the 2024 iteration of its best-selling Classic 350 motorcycle at a starting price of Rs 1,99,500. The motorcycle gets upgrades such as LED lights all around, as well as seven new colourways.

"“In the month of August, we launched the 2024 Classic 350, a motorcycle that carries forward our rich legacy and in striking new colourways, B. Govindrajan, chief executive officer at Royal Enfield, said in a statement. "We are gearing up for the festive season and are positive that our recently launched motorcycles will resonate with the riding community."

Total auto sales of Hyundai Motor India Pvt. Ltd. fell 11.5% year-on-year to 63,175 units in August 2024, as against 71,435 units in the year-ago period, according to a statement on Sunday, 1 September 2024.

• Domestic sales down 8% YoY at 49,525 units

• ⁠Exports down 22.5% YoY at 13,650 units

YTD, Hyundai India sales are up 2.06% year-on-year at 5,13,510 units.

"SUVs remain a key growth driver for Hyundai India in 2024 with 66.8% contribution to domestic sales," Tarun Garg, whole-time director and chief operating officer at Hyundai Motor India, said in a statement. "We are soon going to launch the new version of the Alcazar, and we are confident of strong festive season response to this new launch."

• Total sales up 13% YoY at 391,588 units vs 345,848 units

• Total 2W sales up 14% YoY at 378,841 units vs 332,110 units

• Total EV sales up 4% YoY at 24,779 units vs 23,887 units

• Total 3W sales down 7% YoY at 12,747 units vs 13,738

• Total exports up 14% YoY at 99,976 units vs 87,515 units

• Total 2W exports up 19% YoY at 89,768 units vs 75,491 units

Total domestic sales of Tata Motors Ltd. fell 8% year-on-year to 70,006 units in August 2024, as against 76,261 units in the year-ago period, according to an exchange filing on Sunday.

Domestic wholesales of commercial vehicles---including trucks and buses of various shapes and sizes---fell 15% year-on-year to 25,864 units as against 30,748 units in the year-ago period.

Total car sales, including electric vehicles and exports, declined 3% year-on-year to 44,486 units, as against 45,933 units in the year-ago period.

Total sales of Toyota Kirloskar Motor India Pvt. Ltd. rose 35% year-on-year to 30,879 units in August 2024, as against 22,910 units a year earlier.

"As we approach the festive season, demand for our products remains buoyant, and we are already witnessing increased consumer interest and higher footfall across all our dealerships," Sabari Manohar, vice president of Toyota Kirloskar's sales-service-used car business, said in a statement.

SUVs and MPVs continue to significantly contribute to the company's sales numbers, reflecting a growing preference for these segment vehicles.

This trend is not limited to major urban centres but extends to Tier-II and Tier-III markets as well, demonstrating widespread customer acceptance for Toyota offerings, Manohar said.

 As a response to the market needs, the automaker reopened the bookings in August for the Innova Hycross ZX & ZX (O) models, available in both strong hybrid and petrol variants.

"With streamlined production and enhanced supply chain, we've reduced the waiting period, allowing us to commence bookings for the top-end grades," Manohar said. "Increased supply of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder has also enabled us to meet the market demand leading to reduced waiting period."

Retail sales JSW MG Motor India Pvt. Ltd. rose 9% year-on-year to 4,571 units in August 2024. The company had sold 4,185 units in the year-ago period.

Over 35% of all retail sales---calculated as per vehicle registration data on the government's VAHAH website---were electric cars, which include the ZS EV and the Comet EV. On 11 September, the automaker will launch a new model, Windsor, in the Indian market.

Total sales of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. fell 3.86% year-on-year to 1,81,782 units in August 2024 as against 1,89,082 units in the year-ago period.

• Domestic sales down 8.35% at 1,43,075 units

• Sales to other OEMs up 76.32% at 10,209 units

• Exports up 5.64% at 26,003 units

Segment-wise, the steepest decline was seen in the compact segment—Baleno, Celerio, DZire, Ignis, Swift and WagonR—where sales declined 19.87% year-on-year to 58,051 units.

The SUV segment—Brezza, Ertiga, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Invicto, Jimny and XL6—was 6.70% year-on-year up at 62,684 units.

The Brezza (19,901 units), Ertiga (18,580 units) and the WagonR (16,699 units) were the best-selling models for India's largest carmaker last month.

Maruti Suzuki has reduced dispatches by 13,000 units to align with retail demand, according to Partho Banerjee, head - marketing & sales. That, he said, has helped bring down the inventory levels to 36 days—a level the company is comfortable at.

Indian auto is entering the festive season with muted sales growth as oversized demand for oversized cars far comes off in the world’s third largest automotive industry.

Car wholesales—measured as dispatches from the factory floor to the dealership—may have seen a decline in August but two-wheelers are likely to have sustained the momentum, analysts indicated. Sales of commercial vehicles—including trucks and buses were likely subdued as the full impact of the monsoon is yet to play out.

Here’s a look at which automaker sold how much in the month gone by: