November 2025 India Car Sales Report

The Indian automobile industry entered November 2025 with a strong stride — buoyed by favourable policies, festive demand spill-over, and renewed consumer sentiment. Passenger vehicle (PV) sales saw robust growth year-on-year, even as month-on-month numbers cooled off slightly from a blockbuster October. The monthly performance reflects shifting consumer preferences, rising demand for SUVs and compact cars, and a positive macroeconomic and credit environment.

Overall Market Performance

According to multiple industry reports, November 2025 witnessed an impressive surge in overall car sales. The combined sales of leading carmakers reached about 3,90,657 units, up from around 3,28,626 units in November 2024 — an ≈ 18.9% year-on-year growth.

Some sources suggest the total industry retail (or wholesale) volumes in November 2025 were in the range of ~3.88 lakh to ~3.90 lakh units, making the month one of the strongest in 2025 after the post-festival correction from October.

The growth across the passenger-vehicle segment was driven by multiple factors: recent cuts in Goods & Services Tax (GST) on small cars and SUVs, improved affordability, easy financing options, and strong demand from both urban and rural buyers.

Top Automakers — Who Sold What

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (Maruti Suzuki)

Maruti Suzuki achieved what is likely its highest-ever monthly sales in November 2025 — a total of 229,021 units.

  • Of these, 174,593 units were domestic sales, 8,371 units sold to other OEMs (for supplies), and 46,057 units were exported — the highest monthly export figure for the company to date.
  • This surge reflects strong demand for its compact and sub-4-metre models after the GST cut, a rebound in small-car purchases, and a preference among buyers for affordable, fuel-efficient vehicles.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Mahindra)

Mahindra reclaimed the second spot in November 2025 car sales, edging past its rivals. The company sold 54,005 units during the month.

  • This marked a ~20% year-on-year growth, although month-on-month numbers did see a dip compared to October.
  • Much of the demand came from its SUV and utility-vehicle portfolio — models such as the Scorpio, Thar (3-door and Roxx), and other SUVs saw robust sales.

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. (Tata)

Tata continued its strong run in November 2025, though it slipped to the third position. The OEM sold 51,672 units as per one report, but other sources mention 59,199 units (domestic + exports) — which suggests some variation depending on dataset or inclusion of exports.

  • The year-on-year growth was impressive — about +22% compared to November 2024.
  • Growth was driven by demand for both ICE and electric models, and bolstered by rising preference among buyers for value-for-money SUVs and compact cars.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (Hyundai)

Hyundai posted a respectable performance too. In November 2025, the company sold 49,295 units, representing a ~9% year-on-year growth.

  • Another data point suggests Hyundai’s total sales (including exports) were 66,840 units, with 50,340 sold domestically and 16,500 exported.
  • Popular models like the Creta, Venue, and other SUVs, as well as compact cars, contributed significantly to the numbers — reflecting the continued demand for value-for-money yet feature-packed models.

Other Manufacturers (Kia, Toyota, Skoda, MG, Renault, etc.)

  • Kia India Pvt. Ltd. registered about 23,675 units in November 2025 — a ~24% increase YoY. Its SUV models such as Sonet, Carens, and Seltos drove the growth.
  • Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. sold 27,660 units, marking a healthy ~27% YoY uplift. Sales were powered by models such as the Innova (including newer variants), Urban-Cruiser twins, and other mid-size cars.
  • Skoda Auto India Pvt. Ltd. and MG Motor India Pvt. Ltd. (MG) also posted strong gains: Skoda sales jumped ~90% YoY to about 5,941 units, while MG sold 5,754 units (+32% YoY).
  • Renault India Pvt. Ltd. managed 3,662 units, a growth of roughly 30% YoY, helped by demand for sub-4-metre MPVs and compact cars.
  • Honda Cars India Ltd. recorded around 5,204 units — a small gain of ~4% YoY.

Collectively, the performance of “top six” or “top OEMs” indicates that the core of the Indian car market remains dominated by a handful of major players, but smaller OEMs and niche players — especially those with SUV/compact/EV offerings — also contributed meaningfully to the overall growth.

What’s Driving The Growth?

1. GST Cuts & Increased Affordability

One of the key triggers for the sales surge was the recent reduction in GST for small cars and sub-4-metre vehicles, as well as favorable tax treatment for SUVs. This made new cars more affordable, especially for first-time buyers and middle-income families.

With improved liquidity, easier financing from banks and NBFCs, and competitive pricing, more consumers found it feasible to buy cars — which translated into increased bookings and registrations across segments.

2. Sustained Demand after Festival Season

Typically, Indian car sales spike during festive months (like Diwali) and taper off afterward. However, November 2025 defied that pattern — the demand spill-over from October, new model launches, and improved supply chain led to sustained purchases.

3. Growing Preference for SUVs and Compact Cars

The rise in sales for SUVs and compact cars underscores a clear shift in consumer preferences. Buyers increasingly gravitate toward vehicles that offer versatility, comfort, and perceived value — especially SUVs with higher ground clearance and flexible driving conditions for both urban and semi-urban roads.

OEMs with strong SUV line-ups (or sub-4-m SUV / compact cars) clearly gained. Meanwhile, EV-ready models and those with hybrid powertrains also benefited from improved consumer awareness and policy support.

4. Strong OEM Performances + Export Momentum

Leading automakers not only performed well domestically but also saw export volumes rise — especially in the case of Maruti Suzuki — helping boost overall sales numbers.

This balanced mix of domestic demand and export growth underscores the strengthening global competitiveness of Indian automakers, backed by improved supply chains, cost efficiencies, and diversified product portfolios.

What It Means for Indian Automotive Industry

November 2025’s results reinforce that the Indian automotive market remains resilient, dynamic, and rapidly evolving. A few broad takeaways:

  • The demand base is expanding beyond just traditional buyers — middle-income families, first-time car buyers, rural and semi-urban customers are now significant contributors.
  • SUVs and compact cars — rather than sedans or large luxury cars — are becoming the mainstream preference. This suggests that future growth will likely come from compact SUVs, sub-4-metre cars, and affordable luxury options.
  • Price sensitivity remains important, and fiscal/regulatory frameworks (like GST) significantly influence purchase decisions. Policymaking — especially around taxation, financing norms, and EV incentives — will continue to shape the market.
  • Export markets are now a meaningful component of overall volumes — making Indian manufacturing a part of global auto supply chains.
  • For OEMs: Having a diversified product portfolio (covering small cars, SUVs, electric/hybrid models, and exports) appears to be a proven strategy to maintain volume growth, even during off-peak months.

Challenges & What to Watch Out For

Despite the strong growth, a few caution points remain:

  • A part of the high sales numbers could be a temporary “post-festival correction rebound” — there may be some volatility in coming months depending on macroeconomic conditions, fuel prices, and interest rates.
  • Supply-side constraints, including semiconductor availability or logistic bottlenecks, remain a potential risk (given global supply chain fragility).
  • Rising competition — with newer OEMs and EV-specialist entrants — may gradually erode the dominance of traditional players. OEMs will need to keep innovating in design, fuel-efficiency, features, and value propositions.
  • As more buyers shift to SUVs and compact vehicles, the environmental impact — including fuel consumption and emissions — may rise. Adoption of cleaner technologies and EVs will be crucial to ensure long-term sustainability.

Conclusion

November 2025 proved to be one of the strongest months for India’s passenger-vehicle industry in recent years. With nearly 4 lakh cars sold across manufacturers — and most of the big OEMs reporting healthy year-on-year gains — it is clear that the sector remains robust, evolving, and responsive to consumer demand.

The success of November 2025 also underscores larger structural shifts in Indian consumers’ preferences — towards compact cars, SUVs, and value-driven purchases — and signals a maturing automotive market that balances affordability, aspiration, and practicality.

For automakers, the message is clear: diversified portfolios, value-for-money offerings, and product innovation will remain the key to sustained growth in a competitive and shifting landscape.

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