Hyundai May 2025 sales: May 2025 saw surprising changes in India’s automobile market, catching both consumers and carmakers off guard. A modest decline in sales ushered in a major change in positions. Hyundai Motor India, though its sales declined, retook the third position in domestic passenger vehicle sales by pushing past Tata Motors. Below is a closer examination of the current performance figures of leading auto companies.

Maruti Suzuki Retains Top Position with Minor Decline

Maruti Suzuki retained its leadership position, but its hold on it loosened marginally. Maruti Suzuki sold 1,35,962 units during May 2025, a 5.6% decline year on year. The slip was largely caused by softer demand for sub-compact cars. It, however, picked up a 1.3% boost in MPV and SUV sales that helped mitigate the overall decline.

Mahindra Consolidates Second Position with Robust SUV Model Portfolio

Mahindra held on in second position with a whopping 21.3% year-on-year growth. It sold 52,431 passenger cars in May, driving home its leadership in the SUV category. With a solid range and growing demand for SUVs, Mahindra’s position has never been more solid.

Hyundai Regains Third Position Despite Decline

Hyundai Motor India clocked 43,861 units in domestic sales in May 2025, 10.8% lower year-on-year. Even against April, there was a slight fall. Yet, Hyundai overtook Tata Motors by 2,304 units. Its export numbers too were impressive at 14,840 units, ahead of Mahindra in total dispatches.

Tata Motors Falls to Fourth Rank

Domestic sales of Tata in May stood at 41,557 units, down 11% from last year’s May. Sales declined by 8.1% month on month. Its EV division recorded a 2% growth and sales of 5,685 electric vehicles, although the overall performance decelerated.

Brands Witnessing Decline in Sales

Not all companies fared well. Honda’s sales fell by 18.1% to 3,950 units. Volkswagen saw a 13% drop with 2,848 units sold. Renault’s numbers plummeted by 32.5%, Nissan by 38.8%, Citroën by 35.3%, and Jeep saw a 19.8% fall, managing to sell only 276 units.

Two Key Factors Behind Hyundai’s Comeback

One of the most significant reasons Hyundai overcame its third position loss was due to its stable export figures, which compensated for its decline in the domestic market. Secondly, the fall in Tata’s sales of ICEs and EVs in May created an opportunity for Hyundai to slide through the ranks despite having little margin.