Auto firms buoyed by festive sales, unsure of sustained demand after Diwali

Dealerships have asked manufacturers to be cautious, warning that over-stocking will hit their margins in case sales soften

Festive demand drove four-wheeler and two-wheeler sales in October, but industry executives and automobile dealers remain sceptical about whether the momentum will continue after the festival season, which will end in two weeks with Diwali.

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger carmaker, sold 163,656 units in the domestic market in October, up 18 per cent, compared with the 139,121 units sold in the same month last year. During the Navratri period, Maruti delivered 96,700 cars, against 76,000 last year.

Hyundai Motor India, on the other hand, said it had recorded its highest-ever monthly domestic sales, with cumulative figures of