The rollout of GST 2.0 on Monday, coinciding with the first day of Navratri, sparked a nationwide shopping spree in the festival season, with the automobile industry emerging as the star of the reformed tax regime due to slashed taxes and unprecedented demand.

Related story: Post-GST reforms, automobile sales hit top gear across Punjab Smaller sub-4-metre cars, now taxed at 18 per cent after the complete removal of compensation cess, have turned hot favourites as bookings surged by 50 per cent compared to typical festive season demand.

Maruti Suzuki reported a record 80,000 enquiries and 30,000 car deliveries on Monday, marking its best single-day performance in 35 years. Hyundai also rode the wave, billing 11,000 vehicles in a single day, its strongest performance in five years. Tat

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