How long will Maruti cars be parked? Key official shares inventory outlook

Inventory levels for small cars at Maruti Suzuki could be as much as 40-45 days by the end of the month, while other segments are expected to maintain a comfortable 30-day stock, auto company's Head of Marketing and Sales Partho Banerjee said during a post earnings call.

Most dealers have an average inventory of 60 days, but stock for the Baleno and Grand Vitara is higher, at around 90 days, as per a report by ET Prime on October 28. The automobile on Tuesday reported a 17 per cent drop in its standalone net profit for the September quarter, at Rs 3,069 crore, as against Rs 3,716.5 crore reported in the same period last year.

Maruti Suzuki noted that segment-specific variances are typical and that adjustments are underway to bring inventory levels down across all categories.


However, by the third quarter, the automaker anticipates a full correction in small car stock, aligning with overall market dynamics.

Meanwhile, specifics on individual models is 'too early' to speak on, Banerjee hinted as the month nears end.

Partho Banerjee, in an interaction with the media, said that there is a decline in the sub-Rs 10 lakh segment, a trend expected to continue through the second half of the fiscal year. However, hybrid vehicles have demonstrated robust growth, achieving a 30 per cent increase in demand, he added.

Chairman R C Bhargava further stressed the company’s intent to push both electric and hybrid models to meet carbon emission targets.

He also clarified that retail sales are a more accurate measure of market health, urging stakeholders to focus on retail performance, particularly during the festive season, when sales are projected to approach 300,000 units.

With a healthy order book for the festive season, Maruti Suzuki remains cautiously optimistic about growth, anticipating an industry-wide increase of 3-4 per cent this year.