Maruti Alto was the best-selling car of the world in the year 2010 - leaving behind ultra-famous brands and models like Fiat Uno, Volksawagen Gol (Brazil), and Volkswagen Gold (Germany). This is the first time that any Indian car has reached the top spot.
Alto sold 300,956 units as against 293, 738 of Volkswagon Gol and 251,078 of Volkswagon Gold during the year ending 31st Dec 2010.
Maruti Alto, which was launched in September 2000, has been a spectacular success right from its launch. It has sold a total of 16.68 lakh units since its launch. Alto has been the Number One car in sales in India ever since the financial year 2005-06.
Maruti Alto Front Maruti Alto Inside
Alto touched the 1 million mark in November 2008; that is the quickest that any Indian car has sold one million units.
Currently, Maruti Alto and Maruti Alto K10 (launched in August 2010) together sell, on an average, 32,000 units a month. In March this year, Alto sold more than 38,000 units. During the financial year 2010-11, Alto alone sold about 347,000 units - thus accounting for more than 25% of the total no of car units (12.71 lakh units) sold by Maruti Suzuki. According to Mr.Shashank Srivastava, Chief General Manager (Marketing), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, it signifies a growth of 47 per cent over Alto’s sales (2.35 lacs) in the financial year 2009-10.
India's small car has indeed made it big and come a long way.