India, Sept. 3 -- The GST Council meeting is set to bring in sweeping changes to how India buys, especially cars and motorcycles. In fact, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will decide what's luxury and mass in the world's third largest automotive market.

The upcoming GST rationalisation, which reduces the numbers of slabs to two (5% to 18%) from the existing four (5%, 12%, 18% and 28%), is likely to reduce the GST rate on cars and motorcycles by at least 10 percentage points to 18%.

But there's a proviso, or two.

While small petrol cars of engine size up to 1,200 cc are likely to attract 18% GST from 28% at present, Reuters claims this benefit will be extended to small hybrid cars as well. That's a big plus for Maruti Suzuki India L...