5 Best Car Brands In India In 2024

The Indian automotive market is the third-largest in the world, period. It is growing at break-neck speed and is expected to host new carmakers in the coming years. A slowdown in car sales was observed in 2019 and then during the pandemic. However, the post-pandemic boom has helped carmakers turn profits and invest in the introduction of new models in India. Indian car buyers currently have over 85 mass-market models to choose from. Although there are nearly 25 carmakers in India, the market is dominated by five. In this blog, we’ll introduce you to the top 5 car brands in India based on their monthly sales figures.

Top 5 Car Brands in India

• Maruti Suzuki
• Hyundai
• Tata Motors
• Mahindra
• Kia

Year on Year Growth of Top Car Brands

1. Maruti Suzuki

The title of the largest carmaker in the country is held by Maruti Suzuki, known for making some of the most affordable cars that sell faster than hotcakes. The key attribute of Maruti Suzuki cars is the accessibility they offer in terms of pricing, after-sales service, and fuel efficiency. In January this year, Maruti Suzuki retailed a total of 1,66,802 cars in the Indian market, posting a YoY growth of 13.2 per cent.

Maruti Suzuki cars price in India:

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2. Hyundai

The second-largest carmaker in the country is Hyundai. The South Korean carmaker is praised for filtering down features from expensive cars to mass-market models. The Hyundai Creta and Venue are two of the company’s best-selling models. It also sells a fully-electric SUV in our market — the Hyundai Ioniq 5. As for sales, Hyundai sold 57,115 units in January 2024, recording a YoY growth of 14 per cent. Currently, Hyundai operates through a Chennai-based production facility but is preparing to begin production at its newly acquired plant in Talegaon, Maharashtra.

Hyundai Cars Price in India:

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3. Tata Motors

Famous for producing some of the safest cars in the country, Tata Motors has witnessed a huge rise in its sales in recent years. The Punch and Nexon remain its top-selling vehicles. The company recently launched the electrified version of the Punch, which also paves the way for the Punch facelift. The indigenous brand could sell 53,635 units in January this year. In the corresponding month last year, it could only retail 47,990 units. Thus, posting a positive YoY growth for January 2024 of 11.8 per cent.

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4. Mahindra

Another home-grown brand on this list of best car brands in India is Mahindra. Born in India, Mahindra has proved its mettle in the toughest markets across the globe. The company has taken the Australian UV market by storm with its halo products — the Mahindra XUV700 and Mahindra Scorpio-N. The brand is also preparing to launch the Mahindra Thar 5-door in India this year. Celebrated for selling capable 4x4 SUVs, Mahindra took the fourth spot in the sales tally in January this year by recording sales of 43,068 units. Subsequently, witnessing a 3.04 per cent YoY jump in sales.

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5. Kia

Another South Korean brand that is excelling in India is Kia. It is Hyundai’s sister concern. With a similar formula to Hyundai, Kia has managed to make an impact in the market. Starting its Indian innings with the Seltos, Kia managed to receive a warm response from the audience. Currently, it sells a total of four products in our market — the Sonet, Seltos, Carens, and EV6. Going by Kia’s sales figures, it secured the position as the 5th largest carmaker in the country and a place on our list of best car manufacturers in India. In January 2024, Kia registered sales of 23,769 units. However, in the same month last year, the figure stood at 28,634 units.

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Notable car manufacturers in India are listed below:

• Toyota
• Jeep
• Skoda/Volkswagen
• Honda
• MG Motors

Expensive car brands in India

• Mercedes-Benz
• BMW
• Audi
• Jaguar Land Rover
• Lexus

Upcoming new car brands in India

• Ford
• Mitsubishi
• VinFast
• Fisker

Conclusion

As discussed the Indian car market is booming. While it still has space for new car brands, the core values have not changed over time. Indian buyers still look for options that deliver more than the money paid. Factors like affordability and fuel consumption are still important in the buying decision. For this very reason, companies like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, and Tata Motors have secured the top spot as the best car brands in India.

FAQs

Q. Which car brands manufacture the safest cars in India?

Going by the Global NCAP safety rating, Tata Motors and Mahindra have delivered the most number of safe cars to Indian buyers.

Q. Which car brand in India has the lowest maintenance cost?

Multiple reports from third-party agencies, FADA, and SIAM reveal that Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai still manage to offer the lowest maintenance cost of all car manufacturers in India.

Q. Which are the most reliable Indian car brands?

Toyota is famous for its super-reliable products across the globe. We would like to add that Maruti has also offered reliable powertrains in its Indian model line-up.

Q. Which car brand has the best resale value in India?

Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai cars generally retain strong resale value. However, it does differ from model to model.