Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the GST 2.0 reforms provided a boost to the domestic automotive industry, with car sales more than doubling to over 5 lakh units in a month since the rollout. The revised GST tax regime came into effect on September 22. According to the FM, passenger vehicle retail sales could be anywhere between 6,50,000 to 7,00,000 units. “The GST 2.0, which came into force a month ago, has given a significant push to the automotive industry, with car sales more than doubling to over half a million units,” Sitharaman said. Maruti Suzuki sold 3,50,000 units between September 22 and October 18. Tata Motors’ sales grew 33% YoY during the period, while EV sales increased by 37%. Hyundai retailed an average of 2,500 cars every day, while Mahindra, Kia, and Toyota registered 1,00,000 to 1,50,000 units in retail sales. During the period of Diwali, e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms recorded a sharp increase in demand, “with premium products and instant delivery service driving growth and festival spend extending beyond major cities,” the FM wrote. Diwali sales in 2025 reached a record Rs 6.05 lakh crore, with the trade surge estimated to have generated temporary employment for nearly 50 lakh people across various sectors. Source: Financial Express
