New Delhi, Nov. 6 -- India's automobile retail sales declined 23.8 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to 31.72 lakh units in October 2026, largely due to a high base effect and a shift in the festive calendar, according to data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA).

October 2025 had benefited from Navratri and Diwali falling in the same month, alongside a surge in demand following the GST 2.0 rate cuts announced on September 22, 2025. This year, Navratri fell in October, while Dhanteras and Diwali shifted to November.

FADA President Sai Giridhar said the year-on-year decline was largely an outcome of the unusually strong base and should be viewed alongside the 25.05 per cent month-on-month increase in retail sale...