The Alto has created sales records for Maruti Suzuki India which rival car makers cannot even muster the courage to even dream about. The car has been India’s top selling car model for a decade, and has now managed to cross the 30 lakh sales mark in the Indian market. The Alto took about 15 years and 6 months to achieve the feat, and is the only car model to have achieved the historic sales milestone. In addition to the 30 lakh cars sold in India, over 3.8 lakh Alto cars have been exported to over 70 countries with Srilanka, Algeria, Chile, UK and Netherlands being its top markets.
An affordable, no-nonsense car with great fuel efficiency, fantastic reliability and resultantly, great resale value, the Alto has managed to be the undisputed choice of the first time entry level car buyers in India for more than a decade now.
In its current avatar, the Alto comes with two engine options – 800 cc and K10 – and a CNG fuel variant. The car is also offered with the clutch-less Auto Gear Shift Transmission (AGS) in the K10 engine variant.
Here’s a table depicting the journey of the darling car of India, followed by an infographic.
Alto Cumulative sales – Journey of India’s darling car
| Sept 2000 | National Launch in Delhi |
| Oct 2003 | 1 lakh cumulative sales crossed |
| Aug 2006 | 5 lakh cumulative sales crossed |
| Nov 2008 | 10 lakh (First million) cumulative sales crossed |
| Oct 2010 | 15 lakh cumulative sales crossed |
| Apr 2012 | 20 lakh (Second million) cumulative sales crossed |
| Mar 2014 | 25 lakh cumulative sales |
| Feb 2016 | 30 lakh (Third million) cumulative sales crossed |
| Average sales per month for past 10 years exceeds 22,000 Altos | |
Commenting on this extraordinary landmark, Mr. R S Kalsi, Executive Director, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki said, “Alto has constantly evolved to reflect the changing India. While Alto’s true essence lies in its remarkable fuel efficiency, performance, attractive price and low maintenance, it has a zippy and sporty design that appeals to customers. Over the years, Maruti Suzuki has kept the brand rejuvenated with latest technology, features and design. Alto is being offered with features – airbag and Auto Gear Shift – at par with higher segment cars. These initiatives have helped enhance the brand’s connect with its customers and maintain its popularity.”