October car sales: Maruti 2.12 lakh, Tata and Mahindra close behind
3 November 2026 · 2 min read · HireHo
Based on company figures reported by Autocar India and Auto India Daily on 1 November 2026. These are dispatches to dealers, not retail sales. Summarised in our own words.
Car makers reported strong October 2026 numbers. Maruti Suzuki sold 2,12,384 units, up 20.46%. Tata Motors sold 73,894, up 20.87%. Mahindra sold 73,338, up 2.39%. Hyundai sold 62,799, up 16.74%.
Other makers
- Kia 33,462 (up 13.22%) and Skoda Auto Volkswagen 9,083 (up 10.07%).
- Nissan 3,600 (up 49.88%).
- Toyota 29,521 (down 26.67%), Honda 5,429 (down 15.09%) and Renault 4,577 (down 9.20%). The source says Honda's figure uses a different reporting method from its September number.
Auto India Daily estimates industry dispatches at 5.25 to 5.30 lakh cars, up 13 to 15%, and the first time October crossed 5 lakh. It says this is an estimate, not a confirmed total.
Why the numbers look big
Auto India Daily says Diwali falls in the first half of November, so makers sent extra cars to dealers in October. It also says retail registrations may be lower than last year's festive base. Dispatches show what makers sent to dealers, not what buyers took home.
What this means for you
- Dealers are stocking up for the festive weeks, so showrooms and service centres may hire for sales and delivery.
- Wait for the retail registration data from FADA before judging real demand.
Sources use different terms for these figures, so treat them as company-reported dispatches.