Bengaluru, Dec. 13 -- We're at the close of the year, and the festive mood is unmistakable. This season has felt especially buoyant, thanks to the goods and services tax (GST) rate rationalization to boost consumption. Even big-ticket purchases, such as cars, saw bumper sales after the GST on small cars and two-wheelers was cut from 28% to 18%, bringing meaningful relief to mass-market buyers.

As we head into the final stretch of 2025, another factor is boosting demand: year-end inventory clearances. Automakers typically roll out generous discounts in December because vehicles sold in January carry the "2025 model" tag, which can hurt the resale value. That means cars with 2025 manufacturing year are now being offered with especially att...