Car sales hit top gear on festive push, up 15-35% during Navaratri-Diwali

India’s leading automobile manufacturers have recorded their best Diwali season ever, driven by recent goods and services tax (GST) reforms, repo rate relief, and buoyant consumer sentiment during the festival period from Navaratri to Diwali. 

According to initial industry estimates, passenger-vehicle makers have seen between 15 per cent and 35 per cent sales growth during this period. 

Industry major Maruti Suzuki on Saturday reported 450,000 bookings during the festival period, with retail sales touching a record 325,000 units. Tata Motors on Tuesday said it delivered over 100,000 vehicles, a 33 per cent increase over last year, while Hyundai Motor India saw retail sales surge 30 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y), averaging around 2,500 cars a day. 

 

According to C S Vigneshwar, president of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (Fada), this season could deliver record sales once the final numbers are out. At Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, the growth momentum was led by the sport utility vehicle segment.

 

The Nexon, India’s bestselling car in September 2025, recorded over 38,000 retail sales, up 73 per cent Y-o-Y, while the Punch clocked 32,000 units, a 29 per cent rise.

 

“Our electric vehicle portfolio, too, has shown strong traction, with over 10,000 EVs retailing during this period, up 37 per cent Y-o-Y,” said Shailesh Chandra, managing director and chief executive officer, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles. “Our full portfolio of cars and SUVs has supported this surge further, reinforcing our strategic commitment to product leadership, market relevance, and delivery excellence in this pivotal festive window.”

 

Maruti Suzuki also witnessed its best ever Dhanteras, with more than 51,000 units being sold in a day. “Now, we are getting close to 14,000 bookings per day. Almost 450,000 bookings have come in a month. Small-car sales were around 94,000, and our total retail numbers stood at 350,000,” said Partho Banerjee, senior executive officer (marketing and sales), Maruti Suzuki India. This was after a price reduction on September 18 to pass on the benefits GST rate cut to buyers.

 

Tarun Garg, whole-time director and chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor India, said enquiries increased 10 per cent Y-o-Y, with over 18,000 customers enquiring daily. “Bookings have been even stronger, averaging nearly 3,500 per day — solid 17 per cent growth over last year.”

 

During the Dhanteras period, Hyundai delivered about 14,000 cars, 20 per cent more than last year.

 

According to Vinkesh Gulati, the chairperson of the Automotive Skills Development Council and former Fada president, the industry has seen average sales during the last 50 days, as sales started picking up after the GST reforms on September 22.