Carmakers and dealers roll out model-specific cash, exchange, scrappage and loyalty benefits as the festive buying season gains momentum despite recent price hikes.

With the onset of the festive season, carmakers are doling out discounts and other benefits on select models even as vehicle prices rise, giving prospective buyers an opportunity to negotiate better deals during the crucial festive buying period. Dealer sources indicate that benefits range from smaller model-specific incentives to as much as ₹3.35 lakh on select vehicles, with several manufacturers offering packages of ₹1 lakh or more.
The festive season, which began with Onam last month, is gaining momentum with Ganesh Chaturthi and will continue through Dussehra before culminating in Diwali. Automakers and dealers are looking to capitalise on seasonal demand with cash discounts, exchange and scrappage benefits, loyalty bonuses and other incentives.
The offers come even as manufacturers have raised prices amid sustained input-cost pressures. Maruti Suzuki has raised prices of select models by up to ₹20,000 this month, marking its third price increase since May. Tata Motors has also raised prices of its passenger vehicles from September, while Hyundai Motor India has increased prices by up to 1%.
Dealer sources for Tata vehicles show benefits of up to ₹3.35 lakh on select Curvv EV variants. The maximum package includes a cash component along with exchange or scrappage-related benefits, although the exact benefit depends on the variant and applicable terms. A Tata dealer's September offer listing also shows benefits of up to ₹3.35 lakh on the Curvv EV and up to ₹2.75 lakh on the Harrier EV.
The Harrier EV is thus among the models carrying the biggest festive-season packages. The Curvv's petrol and diesel versions are also carrying model-specific benefits, while the Nexon and other Tata models have separate dealer-level incentives.
Mahindra has also stepped up incentives on select SUVs ahead of the festive rush. Dealer sources put the maximum benefit across the range at around ₹2.5 lakh this month, with the offer structure varying across models and including combinations of cash discounts, exchange-related benefits and accessories.
The Thar Roxx, Scorpio N, XUV 3XO and other SUVs are among the models for which buyers can find different combinations of benefits, depending on the vehicle, dealership and available stock.
Maruti Suzuki's Victoris is among the models carrying substantial benefits this month. Dealer sources show exchange, finance and other promotional offers, while the strong-hybrid version has been reported with benefits of up to ₹1.35 lakh. The Wagon R and Swift are also carrying model-specific incentives.
The Grand Vitara, however, stands out in Maruti's Nexa portfolio. Dealer-market information puts the headline benefits at up to ₹3.10 lakh on select strong-hybrid versions. A significant portion of this figure comes from a zero-road-tax benefit of up to ₹1.85 lakh, alongside exchange or scrappage, loyalty and corporate benefits. The actual saving therefore depends on the customer's location, eligibility and the benefits that can be combined.
Hyundai Motor India is also offering benefits on several models. Partner-dealer listings show benefits of up to ₹1 lakh on the Creta. Other Hyundai models, including the Verna, Alcazar, i20 and Exter, are also available with variant- or dealer-specific promotions.
Kia India is also rolling out festive-season benefits across its portfolio. Dealer offer details show benefits of up to ₹1.50 lakh on the Carnival, while select MY2025 Carens Clavis units carry benefits of up to ₹1.20 lakh. The MY2026 Clavis gets benefits of up to ₹65,000, while the Clavis EV gets up to ₹55,000. The Sonet is available with benefits of up to ₹50,000, with lower incentives available on the Syros and Carens. The exact benefit depends on model year, variant, customer eligibility, dealership and stock.
Honda is offering some of the more substantial benefits in its portfolio. Dealer-market listings put the maximum benefit on the Elevate at around ₹2.44 lakh, while the City and Amaze also carry significant incentives. The exact package can differ according to variant, state and dealership.
The discounts come against the backdrop of strong passenger vehicle demand. PV retail sales crossed the 4-lakh mark for the first time in August, rising 16.14% year-on-year to 4,02,398 units. However, dealer inventory also increased to around 38-40 days by the end of August, indicating that manufacturers and dealers have considerable stock to work through during the festive period.
The combination of strong retail demand and elevated inventory is likely to make the festive months particularly important for automakers as they seek to convert showroom enquiries into deliveries.
To be sure, these figures are based on dealer sources and market-level information and should not be interpreted as uniform nationwide schemes. Actual benefits can vary according to the city, dealership, variant, model year and stock position. Carmakers were approached for comments on the offers but did not respond.
The maximum advertised benefit may also not represent an equivalent reduction in the vehicle's final purchase price. Exchange, scrappage, loyalty, corporate, road-tax and other incentives can have separate eligibility conditions and may not be combinable in every case.
Puneet Gupta, Director, Mobility Global, said retail demand remains healthy, although wholesale volumes exceeding retail sales point to some build-up in dealer inventory. He has also cautioned, "If the macroeconomic environment deteriorates further and inventory continues to rise, it could eventually put pressure on dealer health and wholesale momentum."
With the industry entering its most important sales period of the year, automakers are consequently balancing two competing priorities — managing margins amid higher costs while using targeted dealer incentives to sustain festive-season sales momentum.