The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Thursday reported total sales of 1,67,014 units in March – up from 83,792 units sold in the previous corresponding month. India had gone under one of the strictest and longest lockdowns in March 2020 after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Maruti’s domestic sales stood at 1,49,518 units last month, while it had reported sales of 76,976 units a year ago.

Both dispatches and production were hit last year because of the pandemic. “Domestic sales in March 2020 had dropped about 48 per cent due to Covid-related disruptions. It will be seen that domestic sales in March 2021 have only recovered to March 2019 levels,” says a statement from the auto major.

Sales of mini cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, stood at 24,653 units last month. The company had sold 15,988 units in March 2020.

Similarly, sales of compact segment vehicles, including models like Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire, stood at 82,201 units as against 40,519 units in the corresponding period a year ago.

Sales of the mid-sized sedan Ciaz reached 1,628 units in March 2021 – up from 1,863 units in March 2020. The sale of utility vehicles like Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga surged to 26,174 units from 11,904 units a year ago month.

Exports in March were at 11,597 units as against 4,712 units in the corresponding month last year.