Post GST cuts, India sees highest Navratri sales in a decade

Powered by next generation Goods and Services Tax reforms, the Indian economy saw the highest sales of a decade this Navratri season.

Official data compilation of the impact of GST rate cuts and rationalisation reveals major gains this festive season for auto makers and electronics segments.

Maruti Suzuki’s Navratri sales grew by 100% doubling over the previous year and recording the best-ever sales in a decade.

Maruti Suzuki reported 1,50,000 bookings and expected to touch 2,00,000 bookings, said sources.

The company had retailed 85,000 vehicles last Navratri. It also delivered a batch of 1.65 lakh vehicles in the first eight days of Navratri. On the first day, data show Maruti delivered a record 30,000 cars, its best single-day performance in 35 years.

Mahindra & Mahindra, sellers of popular SUVs -- XUV700 and ScorpioN -- saw a jump of 60% year-on-year. At Hyundai, the surge in demand for models like Creta and Venue pushed SUVs’ share of total sales to over 72%.

"Showroom footfalls of two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp have doubled this Navratri with high traction in the commuter segment.

Tata motors retailed more than 50,000 vehicles during the festive period, with demand from Altroz, Punch, Nexon and Tiago models.

Bajaj Auto also reported strong sales during Navratri," official compilation shows.

The same story unfolded in the consumer electronics space where LG, Haier and Godrej Appliances reported high double-digit sales growth this Navratri compared to last year.

Statistics show Haier’s sales soared 85%, nearly selling out its Diwali stock of 85-inch and 100-inch TVs priced above Rs 2.5 lakh. The company also sold 300–350 units of 65-inch TVs daily during the period.

Sales at India’s largest retailer Reliance Retail grew by 20-25% over last year's Navratri with categories like large-screen TVs, smartphones, and fashion driving the sales momentum.

Electronics retail chain Vijay Sales too saw a more than 20% sales growth.

LG Electronics India noted “exponential growth” in sales this Navratri season.

Officials said by rationalising GST slabs and easing the tax burden on both essential and aspirational items, the government fostered an environment of confident spending. "As a result, brands and retailers reported sales growth ranging from 25% to 100%, marking a major boost for India’s consumption-driven economy. Importantly, the first half of the festive season, spanning Onam, Durga Puja, and Dussehra accounts for 40–45% of total festive sales making it the largest consumption period in the country," they said.