After ruling the Indian car market for 4 decades, Maruti Suzuki had to surrender its top spot to none other than Tata Motor.
Tata Motor’s subcompact crossover SUV, Tata Punch, packed a powerful punch (no pun intended!) to all other contenders and became India’s No 1 Car of 2024.
With sales of a whopping 2.02 lakh units this year, Tata Punch left behind the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, to become the best selling car in India. This count includes both, Tata Punch Pure (gas model) and Tata Punch EV (electric model).
The strange twist of fate is that Tata Motors achieved this ground-breaking feat the same year as Dr Ratan Tata’s unfortunate demise.
The Fight for Becoming India’s No 1 Car
The final tally of most sold cars in India included a majority of Maruti Suzuki car models. Wagan R, Ertiga, and Brezza ended up in the second, third, and fourth positions respectively. Hyundai Creta made it to the fifth spot. Nonetheless, Tata Punch led by a sizeable margin.
Tata Punch’s Journey to the Top
Since its launch in October 2021, Tata Punch has seen a gradual but consistent growth in its rankings. It found 22,571 customers in its debut year. The following table shows its rise to the top:
| Year | Units Sold | End-of-the-Year Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,29, 895 | 10th |
| 2023 | 1,50, 182 | 8th |
| 2024 | 2,02, 032 | 1st |
Why is Tata Punch India’s No 1 Car?
To become one of the strongest competitors of Maruti Suzuki and even beat it in its own game, is no small thing! Here’s what made Tata Punch win the trust of car buyers in the country:
Affordability
One of the reasons, why Tata Punch is getting all that love is because it is one of, if not the best budget SUV in India.
This means that it gives buyers a taste of luxury at an affordable price. The starting cost of Tata Punch is around ₹ 6.13 Lakh, and it can go up to ₹ 10.15 Lakh. Its other rival SUVs, like Brezza and Creta, start at ₹ 8 lakhs and 11 lakhs, respectively.
Great Features and Utility
The choice is luxury. Tata Punch, not only comes in both Gas and Electric Versions, it also has 22 versions, including combinations of manual and AMT options.
While its SUV silhouette and commanding driver position give a sense of luxury, its compact design makes it easily maneuverable in clamped spaces and high traffic.
With a 1.2L Revotron petrol engine, it offers 87.8 PS power and 115 Nm of Torque. Customer reviews suggest it gives a mileage of 16-18 kmpl. Its electric variant can go from 315 – 421 km on a single charge. These are good enough numbers for a daily city commute.
High Safety Rating
Another standout feature of 2024’s best selling car in India is its commitment to safety. Tata Punch received a 5-star rating for adult protection and a 4-star for child safety in the Global NCAP crash test. It is considered the safest among all TATA vehicles by Bharat NCAP.
Maruti’s Long-Standing Reign Ends
A landmark detail here is the end of Maruti’s streak at the no 1 spot, which went on from 1985. Maruti’s very first car in India was India’s top-selling car for 19 consecutive years (1985-2004). Its more spacious successor Maruti Alto ruled the roost from 2005 to 2020. Maruti retained its title of the best selling car company in India even after the pandemic, ‘tallboy’ Maruti Wagon R ranking as India’s No 1 Car in India in 2021 and 2022. Maruti’s zippy and compact car, Swift, became the most sold car in India in 2023.
The Growing Dominance of SUVs in India
There is yet another interesting observation here. You’ll notice that 3 out of the 5 cars in this list are SUVs (Tata Punch, Maruti Brezza, and Hyundai Creta).
This is a big indication of a shift in the preference of Indian car buyers. Most of them are now picking SUVs over hatchbacks, which was once the popular choice.
With the rise in purchasing power and desire for luxury, Indians are opting for more premium car types and are willing to shell out a bit more. It appears that Tata Punch has catered to this demand perfectly.
In the forthcoming years, it will be interesting to see if Tata Punch retains its crown of India’s No 1 car, or if Maruti will strike back and reclaim its title.
