After GST Cut, Over 80,000 New Vehicles Hit Pune Roads in October — Traffic Trouble Likely to Get Worse

The automobile sector in Maharashtra is witnessing a remarkable boom, and Pune has emerged as the frontrunner. In just one month, over 80,000 new vehicles hit the roads of Pune district, making it the highest in the state. The surge comes on the back of the Central Government’s GST 2.0 rollout, which has reduced overall GST rates and given a major boost to festive season sales.

After the introduction of GST 2.0 on September 22, the tax structure saw a major overhaul — the 12% tax slab was scrapped, and several items from the 28% slab were moved to the 18% category. This led to an overall GST reduction between 7% and 12%, with vehicles alone enjoying a 10% cut in tax rates. The reform proved timely, as the Dussehra and Diwali period turned into one of the busiest months for automobile dealerships across the country.

In October, a total of 4,45,993 vehicles were sold across Maharashtra, reflecting a sharp rise in consumer confidence. Among the 36 districts, Pune district alone contributed 80,213 registrations, accounting for 18% of the state’s total. The top five districts in vehicle sales were Pune, Thane, Mumbai Suburban, Nashik, and Nagpur.

On a national scale, the festive cheer translated into impressive numbers. Vehicle sales in October rose by 32% compared to last year. In October 2024, around 21.43 lakh (2.143 million) vehicles were sold, while October 2025 saw that number jump to 28.32 lakh (2.832 million). Maharashtra alone contributed over 15% of India’s total sales during this period.

Pune’s RTOs Lead the Way

Maharashtra currently has 57 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), and Pune’s offices dominated the registration charts.

Pune (MH-12) registered 44,699 vehicles.

Pimpri-Chinchwad (MH-14) followed with 29,453 registrations.

Nashik (MH-15) saw 17,362 new vehicles.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (MH-20) recorded 15,465, and

Thane (MH-04) registered 14,392 new vehicles.

The combined strength of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad RTOs firmly established the district as Maharashtra’s automotive hub. In comparison, Thane and Kalyan together registered 36,333 vehicles, while the three RTOs in Mumbai accounted for 28,104. The Nashik district, with its Nashik and Malegaon offices, logged 22,740 registrations.

Districts with the Highest Vehicle Sales

1. Pune – 80,213

2. Thane – 36,333

3. Mumbai Suburban – 28,104

4. Nashik – 22,740

5. Nagpur – 22,367

RTOs with the Highest Vehicle Registration

1. Pune (MH-12)

2. Pimpri-Chinchwad (MH-14)

3. Nashik (MH-15)

4. Thane (MH-04)

5. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (MH-20)

It’s not just mass-market vehicles — the luxury car segment is also on an upward trajectory. Between January and September this year, registrations of high-end car models priced above ₹70 lakh increased by over 13% compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO).

Swapnil Bhosle, Deputy Regional Transport Officer (Pune), revealed that 844 luxury vehicles were registered in the city this year, compared to 745 last year. “The numbers are encouraging, and we expect the registrations to continue rising in the coming months,” he noted.

The most expensive car registered this year was a Rolls Royce Cullinan, valued at ₹12 crore, registered on April 9. Other high-profile registrations included models like the Aston Martin DBX 707, another Rolls Royce Cullinan, and a Bentley Bentayga V8. Apart from these ultra-luxury cars, most registrations were from brands such as Mercedes, BMW, Range Rover, and Toyota.

Interestingly, the costliest car last year was again a Rolls Royce Cullinan, priced at ₹9.32 crore, showing a continued fascination among Pune’s elite for top-end luxury models.

Commenting on the overall trend, Bhosle added, “The rationalisation of GST 2.0 has significantly lifted consumer sentiment. With improved purchasing power and reduced tax barriers, customers are now more confident in making high-value purchases. This restructuring has provided a much-needed boost to the automotive sector, and we expect even stronger registration numbers in the months to come.”