Maruti Suzuki is witnessing strong demand for its vehicles despite a decline in profits and market share, with production capacity stretched and a significant order backlog, chairman R. C. Bhargava said on Tuesday.The country’s largest carmaker reported total sales of 2.4 million units in FY26, marking an 8% year-on-year increase. Domestic sales grew 4% to 1.97 million units, while exports surged 35% to nearly 450,000 units, reflecting robust overseas demand.However, the company’s share in the passenger vehicle segment slipped to 39.2% in FY26 from 40.9% in the previous fiscal, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. Despite the dip, Bhargava downplayed concerns, emphasising that demand continues to exceed supply across multiple models.He noted that the company currently has a backlog of around 200,000 orders, indicating sustained consumer interest. “Our plants are running at full capacity, and demand remains strong,” he said, adding that the focus is on expanding production to reduce waiting periods.Industry analysts suggest that rising competition in the passenger vehicle market, particularly in the SUV segment, has contributed to the marginal decline in market share. However, Maruti Suzuki’s consistent sales growth and export performance underline its continued dominance in the Indian automobile sector.The company is expected to ramp up capacity and introduce new models to maintain momentum.
