Festive tailwinds drive car sales to record highs in October

NEW DELHI: Carmakers rode festive demand to new sales records in October. Growth extended beyond SUVs, with Maruti Suzuki reporting stronger passenger car sales and supply constraints in CNG vehicles, although the durability of demand after the festive season will be the next test.Maruti and Hyundai recorded their highest-ever monthly domestic sales, while Mahindra posted records in both domestic SUV and overall vehicle sales. Tata Motors narrowly edged past Mahindra in domestic passenger vehicle volumes and also recorded all-time monthly high.Market leader Maruti’s domestic passenger vehicle sales rose 20.5% to 2,12,384 units. Its passenger car portfolio grew 18.4%, alongside a faster 26.1% increase in utility vehicles, suggesting that October’s gains were spread across vehicle categories.Small cars contributed about 40,000 units, said Partho Banerjee, senior executive officer, marketing & sales, Maruti Suzuki India. CNG sales stood at around 87,000 units, or about 40% of domestic volumes, with supplies still constrained. The scale of CNG demand underlines the importance of running costs in buyers’ choices, even as manufacturers expand their electric portfolios.Banerjee said Maruti expected to gain market share over the next few months. For its e Vitara, domestic volumes were expected to remain around 2,000 a month through December as “commitments to other markets are there”, he said.

SUVs and small cars both fuel October’s passenger vehicle sales surge

Exports provided another growth engine for Maruti and Hyundai, rising 59.3% and 21.1%, respectively. Hyundai’s domestic sales increased 16.7% to a record 62,799 units.“Strong festive demand, coupled with healthy momentum in both domestic and export markets, helped us set this new sales record,” Hyundai Motor India MD and CEO Tarun Garg said.Competition below the market leader remained close. Tata’s domestic passenger vehicle sales grew 21% to 73,894 units, just 556 ahead of Mahindra. Including exports, Tata’s passenger vehicle volumes rose 23% to 75,426 units.Electric vehicles grew considerably faster than Tata’s overall passenger vehicle business. EV sales, including exports, rose 75% to 16,244 units, accounting for more than a fifth of its total passenger vehicle volumes. The company said monthly bookings reached an all-time high, supported by demand across its brands and powertrain options.Mahindra’s domestic SUV sales reached a record 73,338 units, although growth was a more modest 2%. Its overall vehicle sales, including commercial vehicles and exports, rose 9% to a record 1,31,109 units, reflecting a broader festive lift across its automotive business.“The festive season, together with a refreshed portfolio, kept demand strong across SUVs, pick-ups and three-wheelers,” said Velusamy R, president, automotive business, Mahindra & Mahindra.JSW MG Motor India’s wholesale sales grew 19% to 8,013 units. Renault, meanwhile, surpassed its entire 2025 sales in ten months, with January-October volumes rising 31% to 39,955 units.The next few months will show whether festive buying translates into sustained demand.