Companies also said confidence was yet to return among buyers, with many holding back their decision to buy cars.
The industry needs stimuli to help revive consumer demand and conversions.
After a spectacular show in 2016, Kwid's sales have contracted by 20 per cent during the April-December period of FY18 to 65,572 units.
Renault Kwid could be the new frontrunner in the 1-litre car segment, says P Tharyan.
Auto loan costs remain stubbornly high.
Various factors, including robust demand in rural markets and good response to new models, helped in driving the sales.
Down in the Indian Ocean, cricket turned out to be the great unifier and Archana Masih, only an intermittent fan, became its ambassador of sorts.
Customers can also book the Datsun redi-GO online through Snapdeal.com
Maruti, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Honda saw their passenger vehicle sales improve in August compared to the same month last year, although Ford and Toyota witnessed a decline.
Reflecting the mood, passenger vehicle sales in November either remained muted or skidded for most manufacturers as high fuel prices and the higher cost of borrowing dampened buying sentiment.
The new tax regime has also been fuelling sale of SUVs, particularly the compact SUVs
The Stepway will have raised ground clearance, body cladding to add that rugged look and roofrails too.
'The August phenomenon of decline in sales occurs every year.' 'What they have done cleverly is, using the economic slowdown as an excuse, they want a package from the government to compensate the expenditure they will incur while converting BS4 to BS6.' 'That's why they are making a hue and cry.'
The industry players couldn't hide their disappointment.
Product launches to drive incremental volume growth for players such as Maruti Suzuki; medium and heavy commercial vehicle revival on track.
The 800cc five-speed manual transmission comes with a fuel economy of 25.17 kmpl
The auto industry has had a mixed month. The build up to Dhanteras and Diwali was good but the demand tapered off subsequently.
Zest buyers are forced to wait up to six weeks for the automated manual transmission version, available only on this car in the compact sedan segment.
Since the Saradha group of companies went bust with its owner Sudipta Sen in police custody from 2013, its agents have been left penniless, homeless and have lost all hope of living a peaceful life. They are out on the streets, crying themselves hoarse for compensation. One of them writes an open letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for help.
These are companies with a strong track record and good prospects on earnings.
A weaker rupee against the US dollar and the Japanese yen along with margin sustenance pressures have forced companies to raise prices.
There was no sale of premium sedan Kizashi during the month.
Ghosn's partnership with motorcycle and auto-rickshaw maker Bajaj Auto got most publicity.
A record number of 85 products will be launched.
The company took five years to sell the 250,000 units of the Nano.
About two dozen car & SUV models and two-wheelers lined up for launch
Maruti Suzuki posted a marginal increase in January and the likes of Hyundai, Ford and Mahindra & Mahindra reporting a single-digit growth.
Kwid's early success is evident from a number of 50,000 in booking in just about a month of launch in September 2015
Unless the model is being phased out or is expected to get a facelift, buying in December makes sense
From discounts to hundred per cent financing to talks of a price hike, companies are doing everything to ensure retail sales pick up this month.
It is immediately not clear how GST will impact the mass car market. Experts, however, say the level of tax on smaller cars will have to be at a differential to the sedans.
New campaigns rev up their marketing pitch, while new challengers such as Tata Motors with the Zest promise to put up a spirited fight
Rita Mozumdar argues small vehicles have not passed the frontal impact test as required under the law
The company has capacity to manufacture 310,000 units annually.
The distinction between "cheap" and "affordable" is a fine one, but no one understands this better than India's aspirational first-time car-owner, says Kanika Datta.
Toyota Motor Corp is betting on pricier premium models offering better safety and quality.
Carmakers fear an increase of Rs 35,000-40,000 per vehicle for safety equipments.
Nano's production though continues unhindered despite mounting losses
Exports in August were up 10.3 per cent to 12,472 units from 11,305 units in the same month of previous year.
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