Festive euphoria, GST 2.0 price cuts, and pent-up demand combine to create India’s first billion-dollar auto retail day.
18 Oct 2025 | 7818 Views | By Kiran Murali and Ketan Thakkar
India’s automotive industry is celebrating a historic Dhanteras, with over one lakh passenger vehicles likely to be delivered across the two-day festive window — the highest-ever single-day retail tally for the sector.
The milestone translates into an estimated ₹8,000–₹8,500 crore (over $1 billion) in turnover, underscoring the combined force ...
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India’s automotive industry is celebrating a historic Dhanteras, with over one lakh passenger vehicles likely to be delivered across the two-day festive window — the highest-ever single-day retail tally for the sector.
The milestone translates into an estimated ₹8,000–₹8,500 crore (over $1 billion) in turnover, underscoring the combined force of festive optimism, GST 2.0–driven affordability, and strong consumer confidence.
Maruti Suzuki estimates to deliver over 50,000 units while Tata Motors sees 30% on-year growth in sales today and tomorrow. Hyundai, on the other hand, is expecting to clock deliveries of 14,000 units today.
Maruti Suzuki on Track for Record 51,000 Deliveries
According to Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the country’s largest carmaker is set to post its highest-ever Dhanteras performance.
“We have already completed around 41,000 deliveries today and expect another 10,000 tomorrow, taking the total to about 51,000 vehicles — our highest ever,” he said.
Maruti Suzuki has received 4.5 lakh bookings since announcing the GST 2.0 price cuts, including 1 lakh for small cars, while overall festive-period retails have already crossed 3.25 lakh units — more than 50 percent higher than last year. Production teams are working through the weekend to meet the surge in demand.
Hyundai Sees 20% Growth, Ends with 14,000 Deliveries
Tarun Garg, Whole-time Director & COO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), said the brand is witnessing strong festive traction, with deliveries expected to close at around 14,000 units, up 20 percent year-on-year.
“Dhanteras deliveries are spread across multiple days this year as it coincides with a Saturday. We are seeing robust customer demand, driven by the festive spirit, a buoyant market, and the encouraging impact of GST 2.0 reforms,” Garg said.
Toyota, Tata, Mahindra, and Kia Add Over 35,000 More Cars
Beyond the two leaders, other major OEMs — Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Kia India — have also reported exceptional momentum, together contributing more than 35,000 deliveries.
Toyota’s hybrid range and Fortuner leadership, Tata’s Nexon and Punch, Mahindra’s Scorpio-N and XUV700, and Kia’s Seltos and Sonet festive campaigns have all seen record showroom turnout. Dealers across brands remained open late into the night to serve buyers during the auspicious period.
Tata Motors expects to deliver over 25,000 vehicles between Dhanteras and Diwali, said Tata Motors Passenger Vehicle Chief Commercial Officer Amit Kamat. "This year, Dhanteras and Diwali deliveries are spread over two - three days in line with the auspicious mahurats. Overall demand has been robust, and the GST 2.0 reform has further provided positive momentum." Tata Motors' sales growth during Dhanteras is around 30% on year.
Industry Closes in on a Record Festive Quarter
In total, over one lakh cars are likely to be delivered across India during Dhanteras, generating ₹8,000 crore-plus in retail turnover — a clear sign of renewed consumer confidence and underlying market strength.
With retail traction expected to stay strong through Diwali and into November, automakers say Dhanteras 2025 marks a defining moment for the industry — combining affordability, festive emotion, and renewed aspiration — and setting the stage for what could be the strongest festive quarter in Indian automotive history.