

Why December 2025 is the best car-buying window - there's more to it than GST cuts
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The Indian automotive sector is gearing up to end the calendar year on an exceptionally strong note, fuelled by a combination of record-breaking festive sales, favourable tax reforms and the onset of the traditional year-end stock-clearance period. This cocktail of conditions has created one of the most consumer-friendly buying windows in recent years—an opportunity amplified by the lasting impact of the recent goods and services tax rate cuts.
The astounding performance of the market during the Diwali period was anchored by the GST revisions implemented on 22 September. The reduction of GST on small cars and two-wheelers—from 28% to 18%—provided immediate relief in ex-showroom prices. These cuts impacted vehicles under four metres in length with smaller engine capacities, categories that directly cater to the mass market.
This reform proved to be a turning point. The affordability boost led to a surge in consumer buying power, causing the industry to clock its highest-ever passenger vehicle sales in a single month. Domestic wholesale sales jumped by almost 17% year-on-year in October, with dealerships delivering close to 500,000 units.
Market leader Maruti Suzuki’s entry-level and compact segments rebounded after being under pressure for years. Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra extended their remarkable run, posting their own best-ever monthly volumes thanks to their popular SUV portfolios. “This year’s monsoon positively impacted rural liquidity and economic performance, which had a rub off on the auto sector," said Ashim Sharma, a senior partner at Nomura Research Institute.
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