Two-wheeler sales surge while small car demand lags behind

According to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), automobile retail sales in India saw a significant surge of over 20 percent in September, marking the onset of the festive season. The overall automobile registrations increased to 18,82,071 units last month, a notable rise from 15,63,735 units in September 2022.

A year-on-year analysis highlights widespread growth across various vehicle segments. Two-wheeler sales grew by an impressive 22 percent, three-wheeler retails soared by 49 percent, and passenger vehicle sales increased by 19 percent. Commercial vehicles also experienced a sales growth of 5 percent. However, tractor retail sales declined by 10 percent compared to the same month last year.

Passenger vehicle registrations showed a 19 percent year-on-year increase last month, reaching 3,32,248 units, mainly due to improved vehicle availability and new product launches.

Two-wheeler retail sales recorded a 22 percent growth, totaling 13,12,101 units last month, compared to 10,78,286 units in September 2022. This growth was attributed to the introduction of new models and attractive promotional offers, particularly in rural areas.

Commercial vehicle registrations rose by 5 percent year-on-year, reaching 80,804 units last month, while three-wheeler sales saw an impressive 49 percent increase to 1,02,426 units. In contrast, tractor sales declined to 54,492 units from 60,321 units in the previous September.

FADA President Manish Raj Singhania noted that the market is gearing up for the upcoming festive season, which includes a 42-day window starting with Navratri after the Shraadh period on October 14. With promising indicators, FADA is optimistic about a thriving festive season for the auto retail sector.

FADA collected this retail data from 1,352 out of 1,440 RTOs across the country.