Despite GST 2.0 reforms and festive demand, Hyundai's domestic sales slip 3.2% year-on-year, though robust 11% export growth and near-record CRETA-VENUE performance signal underlying strength amid challenging market conditions.
01 Nov 2025 | 8279 Views | By Sarthak Mahajan
Hyundai Motor India Limited's October 2025 sales figures paint a nuanced picture of the automaker's performance, showing a slight year-on-year decline even as the company maintains its stronghold in the SUV segment and strengthens its export capabilities.
The Numbers Tell the Story
HMIL achieved total monthly sales of ...
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Hyundai Motor India Limited's October 2025 sales figures paint a nuanced picture of the automaker's performance, showing a slight year-on-year decline even as the company maintains its stronghold in the SUV segment and strengthens its export capabilities.
The Numbers Tell the Story
HMIL achieved total monthly sales of 69,894 units in October 2025, comprising 53,792 units in domestic sales and 16,102 units in exports. When compared to the previous year, this represents a marginal decline from October 2024's total sales of 70,078 units (55,568 domestic and 14,510 exports).
The year-on-year comparison reveals:
- Total sales: Down 0.26% (184 units)
- Domestic sales: Down 3.2% (1,776 units)
- Export sales: Up 11% (1,592 units)
The Export Bright Spot
While domestic sales softened, Hyundai's export performance emerged as a significant positive. The 11% year-on-year growth in exports to 16,102 units underscores the company's strengthening position as a global manufacturing hub. This export momentum builds on the company's exceptional September performance, where exports had surged nearly 44% year-on-year to reach a 33-month high.
The export growth is particularly noteworthy given that October 2024 had already shown healthy export numbers, with a 6.7% year-on-year increase. Sustaining double-digit growth on that base demonstrates robust international demand for Indian-manufactured Hyundai vehicles.
SUV Dominance Continues
Despite the overall decline in domestic volumes, Hyundai's SUV portfolio remained the cornerstone of its strategy. The popular duo of CRETA and VENUE achieved their second-highest ever combined monthly sales of 30,119 units in October 2025.
This is particularly impressive when contextualized against October 2024's performance. Last year, CRETA alone recorded its highest-ever monthly domestic sales of 17,497 units, contributing to total SUV sales of 37,902 units with a 68.2% contribution to domestic sales.
The continued strong performance of the CRETA-VENUE combination suggests that while overall market conditions may have been challenging, Hyundai's core SUV products maintained their appeal to Indian consumers.
The GST 2.0 Factor
A key differentiator between the two Octobers is the policy environment. October 2025 benefited from GST 2.0 reforms, which provided a significant boost to the Indian automotive industry, according to COO Tarun Garg. These reforms, which had already driven September 2025 to achieve the highest-ever SUV penetration in company history at 72.4%, appear to have sustained momentum into the festive season.
In contrast, October 2024's performance was achieved without such policy tailwinds, though it still benefited from strong festive demand. The company had achieved its third-highest domestic and total monthly sales since inception, along with record CNG sales of 8,261 units.
Market Context and Outlook
The marginal decline in domestic sales despite favorable policy conditions and strong festive sentiment suggests broader market pressures—possibly including heightened competition, economic headwinds, or market saturation in key segments.
However, Hyundai's ability to maintain sales within 3% of last year's levels while simultaneously growing exports by double digits demonstrates operational resilience. The company's emphasis on the CRETA-VENUE duo achieving near-record sales indicates that its core products continue to resonate with consumers.
As the festive season concludes and the all-new VENUE enters the market, Hyundai's ability to translate product refreshes into volume growth will be crucial for regaining year-on-year momentum in the coming months.