Maruti Suzuki cuts production for eighth straight month in September

Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), the country's largest carmaker, reduced its production for the eighth straight month, as the automobile sector continued to reel under a slowdown. The company cut its production by 17.48% in September.

The company produced a total of 1,32,199 units in September as against 1,60,219 units during the same month last year, Maruti Suzuki said in a regulatory filing.

Passenger vehicles' production declined by 17.37% last month. The automaker produced 1,30,264 units as against 1,57,659 units in September 2018, it said.

Production of mini and compact segment cars, including Alto, New WagonR, Celerio, Ignis, Swift, Baleno and Dzire stood at 98,337 units as against 1,15,576 units in September last year, down 14.91%.

Similarly, the production of utility vehicles such as Vitara Brezza, Ertiga and S-Cross declined 17.05% to 18,435 units as compared with 22,226 units a year ago.

Mid-sized sedan Ciaz saw its production reduced to 2,350 units in September from 4,739 units in the same month last year.

Light commercial vehicle Super Carry's production was also trimmed to 1,935 units last month from 2,560 units in September 2018, the filing said.

In August, the automaker had cut its production by 33.99% at 1,11,370 units.

Tata Motors also reported a 63% drop in production of passenger vehicles in September at 6,976 units as compared to 18,855 units in the same period last year.

All the major automobile makers, including MSI, Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Toyota and Honda, have reported double-digit decline in domestic passenger vehicle sales in September as the onset of the festive season failed to lift the ongoing slump in the auto industry.

Maruti Suzuki India Limited