समाचार Samāchār · Business · 2 November 2026

Record car sales in October. Maruti’s 59% export jump is the bigger number

Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Kia and Mahindra posted their best domestic months on record and Tata Motors grew 21%. Maruti also shipped close to 50,000 vehicles abroad.

India’s carmakers had their biggest October. Maruti Suzuki sold 2,12,384 passenger vehicles at home, up 20.5% on a year ago. Its total of 2,76,120 vehicles is its highest for any month. Hyundai, Kia and Mahindra each reported their best domestic month on record. Tata Motors grew 21%.

The numbers by maker. Tata Motors sold 73,894 passenger vehicles in India and its EV sales rose 75% to 16,244. Mahindra sold 73,338 SUVs, up 2%, and 1,31,109 vehicles across its businesses. Hyundai sold 62,799 at home, up 16.7%. Kia wholesaled 33,462, up 13.2%, its second record month in a row. Utility vehicles led at Maruti, up 26% to 97,787. Not every maker gained. Toyota’s domestic sales fell 26.7% to 29,521.

The companies credit the festive season and new models. Mahindra’s Velusamy R pointed to festive demand and a refreshed portfolio. Hyundai’s Tarun Garg cited strong festive demand and healthy domestic momentum. Makers report a mix of dispatches and registrations, so the industry total will be clearer when SIAM and VAHAN data come in.

The line worth more than the record is exports. Maruti shipped 49,872 vehicles abroad in October, up from 31,304 a year ago. Hyundai’s total including exports rose 17.7% to 82,299. A festive peak at home fades by December. Export orders do not follow Diwali. Plants that build for the world run fuller all year, and that keeps hiring steady on the shop floor and across the supplier base.

What a founder takes from it: Demand at home is back and that is welcome. The durable win is a car built in India selling abroad. Founders in the auto supply chain should plan for export-grade quality and volume, not for one good quarter.