GST reductions and festive demand continue to drive Indian vehicle market up

India’s Light Vehicle (LV) wholesales rose by 23% month-on-month (MoM) in October to 537k units. Passenger Vehicles (PVs) increased by 23% to 459k units, while Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) with a gross vehicle weight of up to 6T also expanded by 23% to 78k units. On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, total LV volumes were up 17%, with PVs and LCVs growing by 17% and 16%, respectively.

The sharp MoM uptick in PV wholesales was fueled by festive-season demand and the introduction of new GST rates that reduced vehicle prices. Retail inflation fell to an eight-year low, further supporting consumer sentiment.

Retail LV sales in October showed exceptionally strong growth, surging by 83% MoM to 630k units from 344k units in September, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). PV retail sales rocketed by 86% MoM, while LCV sales leaped 64% MoM. FADA linked this outstanding performance to Dussehra and Diwali occurring in the same month, as well as the impact of the GST 2.0 reforms, which improved affordability and strengthened middle-class purchasing power. Compact and sub-4-meter cars saw a clear resurgence as reduced tax rates widened the buyer base. Overall, LV retail sales were 13% higher YoY in October, highlighting strong festive sentiment and more attractive pricing across segments.

At the end of October, PV inventory levels in India eased to 53-55 days, down from around 60 days in September. This adjustment was largely due to strong festive retail momentum and GST-driven affordability gains, which together increased customer enquiries and boosted conversion rates across dealerships.

Over the first ten months of 2025, LV sales increased by 3% YoY to 4.2 million units, comprising 3.6 million PVs (+3% YoY) and 600k LCVs (+3% YoY).

Demand is expected to stay strong in November and beyond, supported by GST cuts on automobiles and household items, which should reduce costs and enhance disposable income. The ongoing festive period, coupled with price reductions from lower GST rates and aggressive promotional activity, is also likely to further stimulate purchases.

Our outlook for India’s LV market has been upgraded to reflect a stronger near-term trajectory. The market is expected to maintain a solid growth momentum through 2025 (+5%) and 2026 (+6%), underpinned by healthy domestic demand, improving supply stability, and a robust pipeline of new product launches. PV sales are forecast to rise by 5% YoY in 2025, while LCV volumes are expected to expand by 6% YoY. The long-term view to 2032 also remains positive, with LV sales projected to reach 6.8 million units.

“GST reductions and festive demand continue to drive Indian vehicle market up” was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.

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