India’s Top-Selling Car In 2024 Is Not A Maruti: Huge Achievement For Tata!

Tata Banishes Maruti From Top Spot in 2024

For the last 40 years, the top-selling car in India was a Maruti. It was once the Maruti 800, then the Alto, the WagonR and the Swift, sometimes. But no more. In 2024, Tata Motors comprehensively beat Maruti – the Tata Punch is the top-seller of 2024. All hail the new king!

The Tata Punch currently stands on the top step with 2024 sales totalling 2,02,030 units. At No.2 comes the every- popular Maruti WagonR, at a total sales count of 1,90,855. At no. 3, we have the Maruti Ertiga MPV, with total sales of 1,90,091 in 2024.

Do note that despite losing the top step of the podium, the next three steps are occupied by Marutis, With the Brezza taking up the 4th spot. At no. 5 stands the popular Hyundai Creta.

The Tata Punch is a compact crossover SUV manufactured by Tata Motors, positioned as the smallest SUV in the company’s lineup below the Nexon. Launched on October 4, 2021, the Punch was initially revealed as the H2X concept at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2019 and later showcased as the near-production HBX concept at the Auto Expo 2020. Built on Tata’s ALFA-ARC platform, it shares components with other models like the Altroz and Tiago.

Since its launch, the Tata Punch has received a positive reception in the Indian automotive market. It quickly became a popular choice among consumers, leading to impressive sales figures. In its first seven months, Tata Motors sold 126,000 units, making it not only the best-selling SUV but also the overall best-selling car in India during that period. By December 2024, it had achieved a remarkable milestone of 400,000 units sold, making it one of the fastest-selling SUVs in India.

The main factors behind the Punch’s success are its affordability, fuel efficiency and versatilty. With a starting price of around ₹6.13 lakh (ex-showroom), it competes well against rivals like the Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger.

The petrol variant offers approximately 19 kms per litre, while the CNG version boasts around 27 km/l, appealing to budget-conscious consumers.

The Punch is available in petrol, CNG, and electric variants, allowing customers to choose based on their preferences and needs.

The Tata Punch is offered in multiple variants to cater to different customer preferences. There are three petrol variants – the Pure, Advanture, Accomplished and Creative. All of them are are powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that produces up to 87 bhp and 115 Nm of torque. The engine can be paired with either a manual or automatic transmission.

Additionally there is the CNG Variant. The CNG version generates slightly lower power at around 73 bhp and offers similar torque figures, available only with a manual transmission.

And best of all, there is the electric variant of the Tata Punch, named the Punch.ev. Unveiled in January 2024, it features two battery options (25 kWh and 35 kWh) with driving ranges between 315 km and 421 km per charge. This variant has further expanded Tata’s reach into the electric vehicle market.

The micro SUV form factor also helps as this is highly in demand in India for the last couple of years. Maruti has the S-Presso as its smallest ‘SUV-shape’ car, and then the Brezza. But neither of them are direct competitors to the Punch, and this helped the Punch become the top selling car in India in 2024.

Currently, Maruti has no car that is a direct competition to the Tata Punch, even though they have cars that come in the same price range. This is likely to continue into 2025 and if Tata keeps updating the Punch with new variants, it is highly likely that it will retain the top spot in 2025 too.