India’s small car market has always been dominated by Maruti WagonR, but now Hyundai i10 has broken this long-standing dominance. With over 33 lakh units sold in just 18 years, the Hyundai i10 has surpassed the 34 lakh units sold by WagonR over a 25-year journey. This marks a major shift in the Indian hatchback segment and highlights Hyundai’s consistent popularity in the affordable car market.
Hyundai i10’s Journey: 18 Years, 3 Generations, and Big Numbers
Hyundai introduced the i10 in India in 2007. Over the years, it has gone through three generations:
- Hyundai i10 (First Gen)
- Hyundai Grand i10 (Second Gen)
- Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS (Third Gen)
These three models together have reached a combined sale of 33 lakh units globally, out of which around 20 lakh units were sold in India itself, and 13 lakh units were exported to 140 countries. The key export destinations include Mexico, South Africa, Chile, and Peru.
What makes this figure more impressive is that the i10 managed to achieve this within just 18 years, while the WagonR took 25 years to reach similar numbers.
Grand i10 NIOS: The Latest and Most Popular i10 Model
Currently, Hyundai sells the Grand i10 NIOS, which is available in petrol and CNG variants. The engine options include:
- 1.2-litre Kappa petrol (Manual)
- 1.2-litre Kappa petrol (AMT)
- 1.2-litre bi-fuel Kappa petrol with CNG
This small car is available with a starting price of ₹5.98 lakh (ex-showroom) and goes up to ₹9.70 lakh. The Grand i10 NIOS is appreciated for its modern design, comfortable features, and reliable mileage.
Hyundai sells around 1 lakh units of i10 every year in India. Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Haryana are the top states in terms of i10 NIOS sales. Interestingly, 83% of i10 buyers are married individuals, and 45% of them are first-time car buyers.
WagonR: Still a Strong Player But Not on Top
Maruti WagonR was launched in December 1999 and quickly became the top choice for Indian families. Its tall-boy design and practical interior space suited the needs of middle-class households. So far, 33.7 lakh units of WagonR have been sold. In FY 2024-25, Maruti still managed to sell around 1.98 lakh units of WagonR.
Despite this, Hyundai i10’s faster growth rate has pushed it ahead of WagonR in overall performance. Hyundai’s focus on modern design, safety features, and reliable performance has helped it win trust over time.
Hyundai i10’s Role in Changing Small Car Segment
Hyundai i10 brought many segment-first features to Indian roads, including:
- Dual airbags as standard
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
- Remote key entry
This focus on safety and comfort made it more appealing than many other small cars. Over the years, Hyundai has kept updating the model with new features and better designs to keep up with changing customer expectations.
Source: TV9 Hindi
