In the first month of 2026, the Indian passenger vehicle market witnessed wholesales of about 4,50,000 units, marking the highest-ever January performance and the second-highest monthly tally on record. Maruti, Tata, Mahindra and Hyundai models featured in the list of the top 10 bestselling vehicles, which comprised six SUVs, two hatchbacks, a sedan and an MPV. Let’s take a closer look at how each car manufacturer fared.
- Demand rebound seen after the revised GST rates came into effect
- Maruti led the sales charts in January 2026, followed by Tata and Mahindra
Brand-wise sales performance
Maruti reported its best January sales yet
With 2,36,963 units dispatched, up 12 percent from a year earlier, Maruti Suzuki reported its highest-ever January figure. Of these, domestic sales stood at 1,78,300 units, while exports hit an all-time monthly high of 51,020 units. Tata Motors recorded dealer dispatches of 70,222 units, a 46.1 percent year-on-year (YoY) surge over January 2025. These numbers were backed by sustained demand for the Nexon, which was Tata’s highest-selling model last month, and the Punch.
Mahindra clocked 63,510 units, up 25.4 percent YoY, driven by the Scorpio Classic and Scorpio N (combined). Hyundai dispatched 59,107 units, a 9.5 percent increase, with the Creta remaining its bestselling model. Toyota recorded a 17 percent growth at 30,630 units. Sales of Hyundai’s sister brand, Kia, rose 10.3 percent to 27,603 units.
| Top 10 bestselling models in January 2026 | ||
| Model | Body type | Units |
| Tata Nexon | SUV | 23,365 |
| Maruti Swift Dzire | Sedan | 19,629 |
| Tata Punch | SUV | 19,257 |
| Hyundai Creta | SUV | 17,921 |
| Maruti Ertiga | MPV | 17,892 |
| Maruti Swift | Hatchback | 17,806 |
| Maruti Brezza | SUV | 17,486 |
| Maruti Baleno | Hatchback | 16,782 |
| Mahindra Scorpio* | SUV | 15,542 |
| Maruti Victoris | SUV | 15,240 |
*includes Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic models.
Sustained demand after festive season
Improved affordability, steady financing availability
Instead of a one-off festive spike, last month’s sales reflect a continuation of the demand rebound seen after the revised GST rates on cars, which came into effect on September 22, 2025. While wholesale growth was already robust in the October-December quarter, January has carried that momentum forward, aided by factors like improved affordability and steady financing availability.
The strong January performance suggests India’s PV demand has moved beyond festival-led buying and into a more stable phase. With inventories in check and order books healthy, growth in the coming months is likely to be driven more by new launches and segment demand than by pricing alone.
With inputs from Darshan Nakhwa and Uday Singh.