The Maruti Suzuki Alto was the world’s best selling hatchback in 2010 ahead of Volkswagen’s Gol and Golf which take up the number 2 and 3 spots respectively.
The Alto has emerged as the clear winner amongst other global best selling cars which include Volkswagen Gol and Golf, Fiat Uno, Suzuki Wagon R and Diahatsu Tanto. Have a look at the sales numbers of all the best selling hatchbacks across the world in 2010.
Best-selling hatchbacks in the world
Model – Sales in Units – Country
Maruti Suzuki Alto – 300,950 – India
Volkswagen Gol – 293,783 – Brazil
Volkswagen Golf – 251,078 – Germany
Fiat Uno – 229,323 – Brazil
Suzuki Wagon R – 195,000 – Japan
Diahatsu Tanto – 191,000 – Japan
The Maruti Suzuki Alto has always been the top selling hatchback in the country since its introduction. The Alto is known for its fuel economy, compact size, decent boot and high resale value. Alto, the successor of the cult car, Maruti 800, uses the same tried and tested 3 cylinder 800 cc engine that produces 47 bhp of maximum power and 6.7 kgm of maximum torque. Fuel efficiency is around 16 kmpl. Related: Maruti Alto K10 road test and review
Photo: Maruti Suzuki Alto K10
Maruti Suzuki launched Alto K10 last year, the same Alto with a powerful 1000 cc engine which performs its duty in Wagon R and Estilo. This K-series engine produces 67 bhp of maximum power and 9.18 kgm of maximum torque. Since the Alto is a light weight car, plonking in a powerful engine improves the power to weight ratio resulting in quicker acceleration and better mileage as well.
Maruti Suzuki recently achieved new sales record by selling more than 30,000 Alto cars in a single month, thanks to the new Alto K10, which propelled the sales higher from the already 25,000 Alto sales previously. Maruti Suzuki is not sitting simply over the success of Alto. Have a look at the sales figures of Maruti Alto in the past 5 months.
Maruti Suzuki Alto Sales
Maruti Alto – August 2010 – 28,430
Maruti Alt0 – September 2010 – 30,147
Maruti Alto – October 2010 – 32,612
Maruti Alto – November 2010 – 32,377
Maruti Alto – December 2010 – 26,937
There was speculation that the Tata Nano could bring down the sales of Maruti Alto/800. However, the sales of the Alto remains strong and is unaffected by the Nano. Maruti Suzuki Alto prices range from Rs. 2.54 lakh – 3.58 lakh and for Alto K10, Rs. 3.33 lakh – Rs. 3.46 lakh (on road, Delhi).
Maruti Suzuki is expected to launch a new Alto, powered by well-refined, fuel efficient engine that could be smaller than the 800 cc engine currently offered in the current model by 2012. However, this car could also be launched with a new name and could also be Maruti’s ‘Made in India’ car.
Other car manufacturers are readying their cars to take on the Maruti Suzuki Alto. The much expected Alto slayer is the Hyundai’s ‘Ha’, an 800 cc small car currently being readied at Hyundai’s R&D in Hyderabad. Tata Motors is planning for a sub-Indica car in its portfolio. Fiat has already announced its plans to launch a small car to take on Alto. Chevrolet is planning to launch a 800 cc engine powered Spark. The next big thing is ‘small’ now. What say?
