Maruti Suzuki Set to Deliver Record 50,000 Cars on Dhanteras Amid GST-Driven Demand Surge

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. is poised to achieve a record-breaking delivery of 50,000 cars on Dhanteras this year, highlighting the renewed demand for automobiles following recent GST reforms.

“We have already completed 38,500 deliveries today and expect to reach 41,000,” said Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer (Marketing & Sales) at India’s largest carmaker. “Last year, we delivered 41,500 cars. This year, we anticipate crossing the 50,000 mark—almost 10,000 more than last year.”

This year, Dhanteras is observed over two days, beginning at 12:18 pm on Saturday and continuing until 1:51 pm on Sunday. “We expect another 10,000 deliveries tomorrow, give or take, bringing the total to around 51,000—the highest ever on Dhanteras,” Banerjee added.

GST Reforms Driving Record Sales

The surge in sales comes after the government reduced GST rates on hundreds of items, including small cars and SUVs, starting 22 September 2025, the first day of Navratri. Small cars now attract an 18% GST, down from 28%, while SUVs are taxed at a flat 40% under the revised GST structure, which eliminates the compensation cess.

“The traction is very strong. We are receiving around 14,000 bookings daily,” Banerjee said. “Since announcing the revised prices, we have received 4.5 lakh bookings, of which 1 lakh are for small cars.”

Meeting the Bumper Demand

To accommodate the unprecedented demand, Maruti Suzuki’s dealerships are operating for extended hours, and factories are running overtime. During the ongoing festive season, the company has clocked retail sales of 3.25 lakh units—50% higher than the same period last year.

Banerjee noted, “Demand is so high that we are running short of vehicles across models. Fortunately, a few more days of the festive season are left to meet this demand.”

The record-setting deliveries on Dhanteras reflect not only the festive buying sentiment but also the impact of GST reforms on driving consumer demand for cars across India.