India Car Sales Report – May 2025: Maruti Leads, Market Shows Mixed Momentum

May 2025 paints a contrasting picture of the Indian auto industry — where leaders defend ground and challengers surge ahead.

India’s passenger vehicle market in May 2025 displayed a dynamic blend of resilience, cautious optimism, and emerging consumer preferences. While some legacy automakers like Maruti Suzuki and Toyota surged ahead thanks to exports and refreshed product portfolios, others, including Tata and Hyundai, experienced slight dips in domestic performance.

Let’s dive into the performance of major OEMs, analyze key trends, and examine how India’s auto sector is evolving in the face of growing competition and changing market dynamics.

📊 Sales Summary: Top Car Manufacturers – May 2025

Manufacturer	Total Sales (Units)	YoY Growth (%)	Domestic Sales	Export Volume
Maruti Suzuki	1,80,077	+3.2%	1,38,690	31,219
Hyundai Motor India	50,311	-2.6%	~45,000*	~5,311*
Tata Motors	74,973	-5.0%	All domestic	N/A
Mahindra & Mahindra	61,415	+4.4%	All domestic	N/A
Toyota Kirloskar	20,410	+36.0%	~19,000*	~1,410*
Kia India	19,500	+3.7%	19,500	N/A
MG Motor India	5,018	+25.0%	5,018	N/A
Honda Cars India	4,660	0%	4,660	2,112 (↓50%)

*Approximate values where specific splits were unavailable.

🥇 Maruti Suzuki: A Familiar Leader with an Export Boost

Despite a 5.5% dip in domestic passenger vehicle sales (down to 1,35,962 units), Maruti Suzuki retained its dominant market position, thanks to a remarkable 80% increase in exports, touching 31,219 units. The overall tally of 1,80,077 units gave Maruti a slight YoY gain of 3.2%.

Key Growth Drivers:

Robust export strategy
High demand for entry-level hatchbacks and compact SUVs in overseas markets
Hybrid lineup gaining traction

📉 Hyundai and Tata: Facing Headwinds

Hyundai Motor India sold 50,311 units, registering a 2.6% decline from May 2024. This reflects modest softness in domestic demand and intense competition in the mid-size SUV and hatchback segments.

Tata Motors, another key player, posted 74,973 units, down 5% YoY. The decline is attributed to:

Cooling demand for ICE variants
Increasing competition in the EV and SUV segments

Despite Tata’s strong EV portfolio (Nexon EV, Punch EV), the company appears to be adjusting to fluctuating customer demand and inventory correction.

📈 Mahindra & Toyota: Riding the Growth Wave

Mahindra & Mahindra continues its growth streak, clocking 61,415 units in May 2025, an increase of 4.4%. Its flagship SUVs — Scorpio-N, Thar, and XUV700 — remain hot favorites, especially in Tier 2 and rural markets.

Meanwhile, Toyota Kirloskar Motor showed stellar growth of 36%, with 20,410 units sold. Credit goes to the strong acceptance of its hybrid Innova HyCross and Glanza. Toyota’s strategy of blending reliability with fuel efficiency appears to be paying off.

🔼 Kia and MG Motor: Small Yet Steady Gains

Kia India posted a 3.7% rise, delivering 19,500 units, led by consistent performance from the Seltos and Sonet. Their strategy of feature-rich, competitively priced SUVs is resonating well with young buyers.

MG Motor India surprised with a 25% jump, retailing 5,018 units in May. The growth is primarily led by ZS EV and the recently updated Hector. MG’s EV push and tech-heavy offerings are winning over urban customers.

📉 Honda Cars: Mixed Fortunes

Honda Cars India reported flat domestic sales at 4,660 units, but its exports halved to 2,112 units. With no major launches and stiff competition, Honda continues to tread water. The upcoming Elevate-based hybrid SUV may turn things around in H2 2025.

📌 Key Trends in May 2025

1. Export Surge

Maruti and Toyota’s rising exports highlight India’s growing role as a manufacturing hub for global markets.

2. SUV Dominance

All growing OEMs — Mahindra, Toyota, and Kia — saw strength in their SUV portfolios. Indian buyers continue to prefer high-ground-clearance vehicles with tech features.

3. EV Segment Stabilizing

While not explicitly covered in every OEM’s May numbers, Tata and MG’s EVs continue to see consistent interest, even as volumes remain under 10% of total sales.