Mahindra Surges to Second Place in April 2025 as SUV Sales Soar, Maruti Suzuki's Market Share Drops Below 40%

New Delhi, May 6 — India’s passenger vehicle (PV) market witnessed a significant realignment in April 2025, with Mahindra & Mahindra leapfrogging both Hyundai and Tata Motors to become the second-largest carmaker in the country by retail sales. Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki, the market leader, saw its market share dip below 40% for the first time in recent years.

The shift, revealed in data released by the Federation of Automotive Dealers Associations (FADA), underscores the rising dominance of SUVs in consumer preferences and highlights Mahindra’s aggressive product strategy and market execution.

Mahindra Leads SUV-Driven Market Upsurge

Mahindra’s strong portfolio of SUVs — including the XUV 3XO, Scorpio N, Thar, Bolero

, and electric models like the XUV.e9 and BE.6 — propelled the homegrown automaker to a 13.83% market share in April 2025. The company sold 48,405 units, a sharp jump from 38,696 units (11.23%) in April 2024.

This marks a substantial improvement in Mahindra’s standing from fourth position last year to second this year. The growing preference for rugged, feature-rich, and value-oriented SUVs has clearly played in Mahindra’s favor.

Maruti Suzuki’s Market Share Slips Below 40%

Despite remaining at the top, Maruti Suzuki’s market share declined to 39.44% in April 2025, down from 40.39% in April 2024. The company sold 138,021 units, compared to 139,173 units in the same month last year.

For the full FY 2024-25, Maruti Suzuki held a market share of 40.25% with retail sales of 16,71,559 units

, slightly lower than 40.6% in FY 2023-24. The drop reflects intensifying competition, particularly in the SUV and premium hatchback segments, where newer entrants are gaining traction.

Hyundai Falls to Fourth Position, Tata Motors Holds Steady

Hyundai, once firmly in second place, dropped to fourth position in April 2025. The company posted retail sales of 43,642 units

, capturing a 12.47% market share, down from 49,243 units (14.29%) in April 2024.

In contrast, Tata Motors maintained its third-place ranking with 44,065 units sold and a 12.59% market share, despite a marginal decline from 46,915 units (13.61%) a year earlier.

In full-year figures:

• Hyundai recorded 5,59,149 units in FY 2024-25 with a 13.46% share.

• Tata Motors registered 5,35,960 units, holding 12.9% market share.

• Hyundai had a stronger presence in FY 2023-24 with 5,62,865 units (14.21%), versus Tata’s 5,39,567 units (13.62%).

Overall Market Grows Marginally

India’s total domestic passenger vehicle retail sales in April 2025 stood at 3,49,939 units

, reflecting a 1.55% increase over 3,44,594 units in April 2024. The modest growth comes amid supply chain normalization, easing fuel prices, and rising demand for electric and SUV models.

Outlook

With Mahindra’s momentum and Maruti’s grip on the market loosening slightly, the Indian auto industry appears poised for more intense competition in FY 2025-26. The battle for dominance, especially in the SUV segment, is likely to intensify further as consumer preferences evolve and new launches accelerate.