Maruti Suzuki sets sales record in October, selling 276 thousand vehicles

There is a growth in electric vehicle sales in the Indian market. In September 2026, the passenger car segment recorded sales of 35,256 units. Tata Motors maintains its leading position in this segment, while Mahindra secured second place. Sales in this segment increased compared to the previous year, showing a 62% year-on-year growth.

When compared to last year, when all companies sold 21,757 electric vehicles in September, the figure reached 35,256 units in September 2026. This means that 13,499 more units were sold this year than last year.

According to the Auto Pandit report, the best-selling car in this segment is the Tata Punch EV from Tata Motors. For September, sales of this affordable and most compact electric SUV from Tata amounted to 4,702 units, demonstrating a sales increase of 284% compared to the same period last year.

In September last year, Tata Motors delivered 1,223 Punch EVs. The share of this Tata compact SUV in the total volume of electric vehicle sales was 13.3%. Additionally, sales of the Tata Motors Nexon EV reached 3,926 units, making it the third best-selling car in the segment.

The price of the Tata Punch EV starts from 9.79 lakh rupees including tax. However, the car can also be purchased under the BaaS (Battery as a Service) program, where the car's cost is reduced to 6.59 lakh rupees including tax. In this case, the buyer will have to pay for battery charging at a rate of 2.6 rupees per kilometer.

Punch EV is available with two battery options: 30kWh and 40kWh. The motor with the smaller battery provides 65kW of power, while the motor with the larger battery has a power of 95kW.

Tata Punch EV offers a claimed range of 468 kilometers. The time to charge the car from 20% to 80% is only 26 minutes. The car is equipped with a 360-degree view camera, front ventilated and leather seats, and a 10.25-inch infotainment system.

The first six months of the 2027 fiscal year proved to be highly successful for the Indian passenger car market. The total sales volume of the top 10 models exceeded 1.101 million units. In the same period last year, 8.66 million units of these ten cars were sold, which represents an increase of 2.34 million units over six months, or a year-on-year growth of 27.13%.

SUVs dominate the top 10 list, accounting for five positions. The remaining positions are held by three hatchbacks, one MPV, and one sedan.

Six models in the top 10 belong to Maruti Suzuki. The best-selling model was the Maruti Suzuki Dzire sedan, which surpassed all other body types. For the first six months of the current fiscal year, 125,988 Dzire units were sold. Last year, the company sold 108,006 such vehicles, demonstrating a year-on-year sales growth of 16.65%. The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is available with a starting price of 6.30 lakh rupees for the petrol and CNG internal combustion engine versions.

Additionally, the Tata Punch secured the second spot in sales, reaching a volume of 123,287 units in the first half of 2027. Maruti Suzuki WagonR is in third place, having sold 116,029 units during this period. The list also includes the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, the only MPV, which sold 112,557 units in six months. The second Tata Nexon model is also featured in the list, selling 111,919 units in the first half of the fiscal year.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx holds the sixth position with sales of 110,135 units. Maruti Suzuki Swift sold 109,332 units, and Maruti Suzuki Baleno sold 108,569 units in the first six months. Mahindra Scorpio (Classic + N) is in ninth place, selling 93,488 units in the first half of 2027. Hyundai Creta took tenth place, selling 89,727 units. It should be noted that last year Creta sales were 99,345 units, which is the only decrease in sales across the entire list.

The market came alive during the Navratri festival; showrooms became vibrant, and buyers started receiving car keys. A total of 11.23 lakh vehicles were sold in 10 days, meaning more than one car was sold every second. However, there is a nuance to this rosy picture: sales of motorcycles and scooters increased, as did tractors and trucks, while sales of passenger cars and SUVs sharply declined. This raises questions about market sentiment during the festive season and whether the sales pace will continue until Diwali.

According to data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), a total of 11,230,860 vehicles were registered during the 10 days of Navratri this year. Meanwhile, approximately 12,014,790 units were sold during the 10 days of Navratri last year. Thus, sales during this year's Navratri were slightly modest compared to last year, showing a decline of 6.52%.

Previously, GST version 2.0 came into effect on September 22, 2025, coinciding with the start of Sharadiya Navratri. Thanks to the GST reforms, there was a significant reduction in vehicle prices, which directly impacted sales. The price reduction attracted a large number of customers to showrooms. This did not happen this time, but people actively purchased vehicles.

Sales pace slowed for passenger cars; two-wheelers dominated

Two-wheeled vehicles were the most in-demand during Navratri. Over these 10 days, 834,075 units of two-wheeled transport were sold, which is 2.79% less than the 858,027 units sold in the same period last year. Regarding electric two-wheelers, 75,758 units were sold during this period, which is 33.41% more than the 56,787 units sold last year, indicating high public interest in purchasing two-wheeled transport this Navratri.

As for passenger cars, only 182,728 units were registered across the country. This is 21.91% less than the 234,004 units registered in the same period last year. Nevertheless, electric vehicle sales increased by approximately 25.97%. Last Navratri, 9,768 electric vehicles were sold, whereas this year the number reached 12,305, indicating growing interest in electric vehicles in the country.

Three-wheeled vehicle sales also showed a slight decrease: 45,735 units were registered this Navratri, which is 7.51% less than the 49,450 units registered last year. On the other hand, commercial vehicle sales amounted to 35,618 units, which is 1.12% more than the 35,224 units sold last year. Tractors also showed a slight increase: 22,690 tractors were registered this Navratri, which is 0.89% more than the 22,489 units sold last year.

FADA Comments

FADA Chairman Sai Giridhar noted that although the sales growth may seem insignificant, last year's base was quite strong. According to him, last year there was a simultaneous surge in demand in the markets for about 30-45 days, which contributed to increased sales. Therefore, despite concerns about a slump this year, the recorded positive growth is a good sign.

He also emphasized that 'the decline in passenger car sales cannot be viewed directly as an indicator of low demand. Last year, the segment benefited the most from GST tax reductions. Furthermore, the calendar for Navratri and Dussehra differed this year from last. Last year, the Navratri festival lasted about 11 days, whereas this year the period was 10 days.'