Maruti Suzuki has crossed the 3.5 lakh booking mark due to increase in demand for small cars after GST cut.

Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) reported 350,000 bookings across its product range, of which around 250,000 bookings came from cars in the 18% GST category.

In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Maruti Suzuki Chairman RC Bhargava said customer inquiries remain strong and the company expects double-digit growth in the small car segment under this tax slab.

Demand has increased after the GST rate for small cars was cut from 28% to 18% just ahead of the festive season. Bhargava said the reduction has brought back buyers who earlier stayed away from the market due to affordability issues. He said tax cuts along with festive offers have helped in reviving the segment.

Maruti Suzuki reported 30% retail sales growth in October, led mainly by small cars. Vehicles falling in the 18% GST bracket now form 69% of the company’s total sales, with this share expected to increase further in the coming months.

Bhargava said sales performance is likely to improve in the second half of fiscal 2026 and hinted that the company may consider upgrading existing small car models or introducing new models if demand continues to be strong.

Senior executive officer (marketing and sales) Partho Banerjee said that although the response has been strong in the top 100 cities, 65% of the total bookings are coming from outside these cities, including rural areas. He also said that many two-wheeler owners are now visiting Maruti Suzuki showrooms to buy small cars.

Banerjee said there is currently a waiting period of a few weeks for Victories, and demand is expected to remain steady during the festive season and beyond.

The company’s latest SUV Maruti Suzuki Victoris has received around 33,000 bookings since its launch. About 30% of these bookings, or around 11,000 units, are for the CNG variant. The e-CVT hybrid and ADAS-equipped versions have also seen strong demand, with the ADAS model contributing 16% of total bookings.

Priced between ₹10.50 lakh and ₹19.98 lakh (ex-showroom), the Victoris is positioned between the Brezza and the Grand Vitara. It comes with three powertrain options: 1.5-litre petrol engine available with mild-hybrid, strong-hybrid and CNG technologies. Transmission options include a 5-speed manual, 6-speed automatic and an e-CVT.