India’s largest-selling car, Maruti Suzuki’s Alto, has emerged as the best-selling small car in the world for the second straight year in 2011, outpacing Volkswagen and Fiat models.
The Alto sold over 310,000 units in India during the year and was the only small car in the world to have sold over 300,000 units, the Hindustan Times reported. It was followed by VW Gol in Brazil (293,454 units), Fiat Uno (Brazil, 273,537) and VW Golf in Germany (258,059).
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Alto is the only Indian car in the top five dominated by cars from Brazil, another major small car market.
“Despite the slowdown in the domestic industry, Alto numbers have grown over the last year,” said Mayank Pareek, managing executive officer, marketing and sales, Maruti Suzuki India.
“There are cheaper cars available and newer players have entered this segment but Alto remains the car that India needs. Very safely, we will see double digit growth for the car in 2012.”
The Brazilian Uno grew sales the fastest during the year, displacing the Golf in Germany from the number three spot.
This is the car’s highest sales in Brazil since 1995 when it sold 250,464 units. It is also expected to nudge ahead of longtime market leader VW Gol in 2012.
