India's Auto Retail Sector Shows Modest Growth in April 2025, Fuelled by Rural Demand
- By MT Bureau
- May 05, 2025
The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) today released its April 2025 vehicle retail data, revealing a moderate overall growth of 3 percent YoY.
The two-wheeler segment emerged as the primary growth driver, registering a 2.25 percent increase in retail sales compared to April 2024 and a significant 11.84 percent MoM growth. FADA attributes this positive momentum to strong rural demand. However, the sector continues to face headwinds in the form of high financing costs and the pricing impact of OBD-2B emission norms.
The tractor segment demonstrated robust growth, with a 7.5 percent increase in retail sales year-on-year. This strong performance likely reflects the positive sentiment stemming from a strong Rabi harvest, which typically boosts agricultural activity and consequently, tractor demand.
In contrast to the strong performance of two-wheelers and tractors, the passenger vehicle segment experienced a modest 1.55 percent YoY growth, while witnessing a slight dip of 0.19 percent on MoM basis. The auto retail body attributes that deep discounts are prevalent in the market and while the demand for SUVs remains strong, the entry-level segment continues to exhibit sluggishness. FADA also noted that the PV inventory levels are currently around 50 days, significantly higher than their advocated norm of 21 days.
The commercial vehicle segment faced a contraction, with retail sales declining by 1.05 percent YoY and 4.44 percent on MoM basis. FADA suggests that recent price hikes by OEMs and flat freight rates are negatively impacting sales. Within the CV segment, the Small Commercial Vehicle category saw weak demand, while the bus segment remains steady.
Looking ahead to May 2025, FADA anticipates a positive outlook, primarily driven by the strong conclusion of the Rabi harvest. The expectation of a normal monsoon further strengthens this positive sentiment, suggesting continued momentum in rural demand which could positively influence vehicle sales across various segments.
In a significant development, FADA has begun releasing fuel-wise vehicle retail market share data across all key categories. This new initiative aims to provide stakeholders with a granular understanding of evolving energy preferences and the impact of regulatory influences on India's automotive ecosystem.
C S Vigneshwar, President, FADA, said, “The new financial year began on a measured note as overall retails in April managed to grow by 3 percent YoY. All categories except CV closed in the green, with 2W, 3W, PV and Trac up 2.25 percent, 24.5 percent, 1.5 percent and 7.5 percent respectively, while CVs declined by 1 percent. With the tariff war paused, stock markets staged a sharp pullback – alleviating investor concerns – and customers thus leveraged Chaitra Navratri, Akshay Tritiya, Bengali New Year, Baisakhi and Vishu to complete purchases, helping April end on a positive note.”
| Category | Apr '25 | Apr '24 | Change (in units) | Change (in %) | Mar '25 | Change (in %) |
| YoY | YoY | MoM | ||||
| Two-wheeler | 1,686,774 | 1,649,591 | 37,183 | 2.25% | 1,508,232 | 11.84% |
| Three-wheeler | 99,766 | 80,127 | 19,639 | 24.51% | 99,376 | 0.39% |
| E-Rickshaw (P) | 39,528 | 31,811 | 7,717 | 24.26% | 36,097 | 9.50% |
| E-Rickshaw with Cart (G) | 7,463 | 4,215 | 3,248 | 77.06% | 7,222 | 3.34% |
| Three-wheeler (Goods) | 10,312 | 9,080 | 1,232 | 13.57% | 11,001 | -6.26% |
| Three-wheeler (Passenger) | 42,321 | 34,959 | 7,362 | 21.06% | 44,971 | -5.89% |
| Three-wheeler (Personal) | 142 | 62 | 80 | 129.03% | 85 | 67.06% |
| Passenger Vehicle | 349,939 | 344,594 | 5,345 | 1.55% | 350,603 | -0.19% |
| Tractor | 60,915 | 56,635 | 4,280 | 7.56% | 74,013 | -17.70% |
| Commercial Vehicle | 90,558 | 91,516 | -958 | -1.05% | 94,764 | -4.44% |
| LCV | 46,751 | 47,267 | -516 | -1.09% | 52,380 | -10.75% |
| MCV | 7,638 | 6,776 | 862 | 12.72% | 7,200 | 6.08% |
| HCV | 31,657 | 32,590 | -933 | -2.86% | 29,436 | 7.55% |
| Others | 4,512 | 4,883 | -371 | -7.60% | 5,748 | -21.50% |
| Total | 2,287,952 | 2,222,463 | 65,489 | 2.95% | 2,126,988 | 7.57% |
- Omega Seiki Mobility
- Securocorp Securities
- Sangeeta Parekh
- Saket Aggarwal Family Office
- Vanshika Sharma
- Dr. Uday Sarang
Omega Seiki Mobility Secures Strategic Funding
- By MT Bureau
- July 26, 2026
Delhi-NCR-headquartered alternative energy vehicle company Omega Seiki Mobility has successfully secured strategic funding from Securocorp Securities, Sangeeta Pareekh, Saket Aggarwal Family Office and Vanshika Sharma in New Delhi.
The funds will be deployed to expand manufacturing capacity at production facilities in Faridabad and Pune, strengthen research and development, enhance the dealer network and accelerate electric mobility solutions following Delhi's EV Policy 2026.
Dr. Uday Narang, Founder & Chairman, Omega Seiki Mobility, said, "This investment reflects the confidence investors have in our vision, execution, and long-term strategy. Over the last eight years, we have built a company grounded in manufacturing excellence, innovation, and financial discipline. As India's EV market enters its next phase of growth, we remain committed to delivering sustainable mobility solutions while creating long-term value for our customers, partners, and investors."
Stellantis Appoints Tianshu Xin And Pablo Di Si To Leadership Roles
- By MT Bureau
- July 24, 2026
European automaker Stellantis has appointed Tianshu Xin to lead its China and Asia-Pacific region, effective 3 August 2026. He will report to Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa and join the Stellantis Leadership Team, while continuing to serve as CEO of Leapmotor International.
On the other hand, Gregoire Olivier has been appointed strategic advisor, reporting to Xin.
Furthermore, Pablo Di Si has been named Chief Performance Officer, effective 3 August 2026. Reporting directly to Antonio Filosa, Di Si will lead execution of Stellantis’ ‘Value Creation Program’ to deliver business targets.
Antonio Filosa, CEO, Stellantis, said, “Tianshu Xin and Pablo Di Si bring deep global leadership experience, operational discipline and proven records of building strong teams and driving performance in highly competitive markets. Their appointments strengthen our leadership team as we sharpen execution, accelerate value creation, and continue positioning Stellantis for long-term success across regions and functions. I also want to thank Gregoire for his leadership and look forward to working together as he takes on his new role.”
Sona Comstar, DENSO Form Joint Ventures For Electric Powertrain Systems In India
- By MT Bureau
- July 22, 2026
Sona BLW Precision Forgings has signed definitive agreements with DENSO Corporation to establish two joint ventures aimed at developing, manufacturing and marketing electric and hybrid powertrain systems.
The partnership involves two strategic joint ventures tailored to different vehicle segments. The first joint venture focuses on high-voltage liquid-cooled traction inverters, traction motors and generators for passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, with DENSO holding a 51 percent equity stake and management control and Sona Comstar holding 49 percent.
The second joint venture targets air-cooled traction inverters, traction motors, generators and e-axles for two-wheelers and three-wheelers, where Sona Comstar retains a 51 percent stake and management control and DENSO acquires 49 percent through a subsidiary structure.
Vivek Vikram Singh, MD and Group CEO, Sona Comstar, said, “We have always believed that the future of mobility will be defined by companies that continuously invest in innovation, product development and industrialization of advanced technologies. This partnership marks an historic milestone in Sona Comstar’s journey as a mobility technology company and reflects the capabilities we have built across advanced electric powertrain systems over the years. DENSO is a company we have immense respect for, as they have been at the forefront of automotive innovation globally for decades with deep expertise in electrification technologies. We are honored and delighted to partner with DENSO to bring together the complementary strengths of both companies and build advanced electric and hybrid powertrain solutions for four-wheelers and larger vehicle applications. This partnership will also accelerate the growth of our existing electric powertrain business for two and three-wheelers by strengthening our capabilities across the powertrain value chain and enabling us to serve a broader set of customers.”
Tsuneo Maebara, Head of Powertrain Systems Business Group, DENSO Corporation, said, “The electrification of mobility represents a major transformation that will continue to evolve in response to the diverse needs of customers and society across the world. India, in particular, is an important region where diverse forms of mobility coexist and electrification is advancing at significant scale. Sona Comstar is a mobility technology company with a global business presence, serving a broad range of customers, and having boldly transformed itself alongside the rapid evolution of the mobility market – from conventional vehicle technologies to solutions for both two- and three-wheelers and passenger electric vehicles. Through this partnership, we will bring together the respective strengths that both companies have built over the years to provide electrification solutions that address the diverse needs of customers in India. By harnessing new competitive strengths created through synergies across the two companies’ products, technologies and business foundations, DENSO will further advance and accelerate its electrification business. We will also build on the outcomes achieved in India to deliver value that meets a broader range of customer needs in the future.”
JSW Looks To Acquire Majority Stake In Volkswagen India
- By MT Bureau
- July 22, 2026
Mumbai-headquartered JSW Group looks to double down on its ambition to become a formidable player in the Indian automotive industry with plans to acquire a majority stake in Volkswagen for its operations in the country, says a Bloomberg report.
It is no secret that despite investing billions in India, Volkswagen has been struggling to find a strong foothold in the country and has been aiming to attain a 3-5 percent market share without much success.
In FY2026, passenger vehicle sales in India touched 4.64 million units. During the same period, Volkswagen India and Skoda Auto India sold a total of 37,576 units and 75,556 units, respectively, translating to a combined market share of 2.5 percent.
The report further stated that the partners are in advanced discussions, wherein JSW will pick up a significant stake in Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, with the announcement expected in the coming few weeks.
For the unversed, Volkswagen has been scouting for a suitable partner in India, with previous reports indicating a potential partnership with Mahindra Group and Tata Motors, among others.
Interestingly, JSW Group has been aggressively looking to expand its presence and grab a meaningful share in the Indian automotive industry. It already has a presence in the passenger vehicle segment, being the largest shareholder in JSW MG Group India, in addition to its newly established JSW Motors, with the first model set to be introduced in the next few months.
As per media reports, the European automaker has also scaled down its investment plans from the earlier planned EUR 1 billion to EUR 700 million, as it looks to narrow down losses in the country.


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