Maruti Suzuki Posts Record 4.5 Lakh Bookings & 3.25 Lakh Retails This Festive Season – Small Cars & SUVs Lead Growth
Maruti Suzuki has posted an outstanding performance this festive season, setting new benchmarks in the Indian automobile market. With around 4.5 lakh bookings and retail sales reaching a record 3.25 lakh units, the company demonstrated unmatched consumer demand and market dominance. These numbers represent a significant boost compared to previous years and highlight Maruti’s stronghold in small cars and SUVs during this crucial sales period.
Unprecedented Festive Season Demand
The festive season this year has turned out to be one of the strongest the industry has witnessed in a decade, with Maruti Suzuki leading the charge. The surge in demand has been attributed to the government’s GST 2.0 reform, which reduced the tax rates on passenger vehicles under four meters and bikes under 350cc to 18% from 28%. This initiative has made buying vehicles more affordable across urban and rural India, igniting buyer enthusiasm and pushing bookings to all-time highs.
During Navratri alone, Maruti delivered an impressive 1.65 lakh vehicles within the first eight days, with expectations to cross the two lakh mark by Dussehra. By mid-October, cumulative bookings hit a staggering 4.5 lakh, showcasing a near 100% growth compared to the same period last year.
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Breakdown by Segments and Models
Small cars have been the backbone of Maruti’s festive success, with popular models such as Alto, WagonR, and S-Presso seeing bookings surge by 70% compared to pre-GST-reform levels. Interestingly, over 80,000 bookings belong to these models, indicating the entry-level segment’s revitalized growth.
The SUV segment is showing substantial momentum as well, especially with models like Nexon and Punch:
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Nexon registered around 38,000 retail sales, a 73% jump year-on-year.
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Punch clocked approximately 32,000 units, up 29% year-on-year.
This balanced sales mix of small cars and compact SUVs has helped Maruti maintain its leadership pedigree while catering to both first-time buyers and existing customers looking to upgrade.
Production and Delivery Efforts
Maruti Suzuki has ramped up production significantly to keep pace with the high demand. Manufacturing plants have been operating round the clock, including Sundays and holidays, to meet the festive surge. Moreover, logistics teams have expanded their operations, utilizing dedicated rail rakes to swiftly move vehicles from factories in Gujarat to distant markets in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Karnataka, and beyond.
The company’s proactive approach has helped prevent long waiting periods for most models, although some versions like the Vitara and Baleno currently have waiting times extending up to 10 weeks due to residual inventory pressures.
Impact on Market and Industry Trends
Maruti Suzuki’s robust sales performance signals a significant change in the automobile market’s dynamics. The revived demand in small cars suggests a growing shift from two-wheelers to four-wheelers among price-sensitive consumers, particularly in rural and Tier-2 cities. This shift aligns perfectly with the government’s vision to increase motorization among the Indian population, where car penetration currently stands at just about 34 per 1,000 people.
Tarun Garg, COO of Hyundai India, also noted a similar pattern, expecting the buoyancy in sales to continue beyond Diwali, supported by the upcoming wedding season.
Financial Services and Consumer Financing
Maruti Suzuki’s dealership network is also geared to provide exceptional customer support during this high-demand period. Easy loan sanctioning, attractive financing rates, and exchange offers have played a pivotal role in enabling buyers across income groups to upgrade their mobility with minimal hassle. The company’s finance partners have been processing thousands of loans per day to ensure timely vehicle delivery.
What This Means for Customers
For buyers, Maruti Suzuki’s record-breaking festive season is a sign of positive market conditions, with increased availability, better offers, and a diversified product range. With GST reductions making vehicles more affordable, customers gain the opportunity to invest in reliable, fuel-efficient Indian cars equipped with modern features.
Maruti Suzuki’s phenomenal performance this festive season, with 4.5 lakh bookings and 3.25 lakh retail sales, marks a new high for the Indian automobile sector. The GST 2.0 tax reforms, combined with increased production and robust consumer financing options, have fueled demand across segments especially small cars and compact SUVs. Models like Alto, Nexon, and Punch are witnessing surge sales, helping Maruti maintain its leadership. Efficient logistics enable timely deliveries despite record-breaking orders, while future demand is expected to sustain strong through the wedding season and beyond, reflecting a positive outlook for India’s auto industry in 2025.
