The Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) has released the automotive retail sales data for November, which saw a total of 3,208,719 vehicles sold across categories, marking a 11.2 percent growth over November 2023.

This saw two-wheelers clocking its best-ever performance for the month at 2,615,953 units, up 15.8 percent YoY, three-wheeler at 108,337 units, up 4.2 percent YoY, passenger vehicles sales at 321,943 units, down 13.7 percent YoY, tractors sales at 80,519 units, up 29.8 percent YoY and commercial vehicles sales at 81,967 units, down 6 percent YoY.

C S Vigneshwar, President, FADA, stated, “While November was initially expected to build on its prior momentum, particularly due to the marriage season, dealer feedback suggests that this segment underperformed overall expectations. Although rural markets offered some support, primarily in the two-wheeler category, marriage-related sales remained subdued. The late occurrence of Deepawali at the end of October also caused a spillover of festive registrations into November, affecting the month’s sales trajectory.”

He shared that while November sales in certain segments were at record high, the marriage season’s contribution fell short of expectations, offering only limited relief from rural India.

The passenger vehicles sales in particular faced notable headwinds, on the back of weak market sentiment, limited product variety and insufficient new launches, compounded by the shift of festive demand into October.

“Although rural interest was present, it failed to significantly improve sentiment.

Inventory levels have reduced by about 10 days, but to remain high at around 65-68 days. FADA continues to urge OEMs to further rationalise inventory so that the industry can enter the new year on a healthier footing, reducing the need for additional discounts,” stated Vigneshwar.

On the CV sales he explained that the segment also struggled due to restricted product choices, older model issues, limited financier support, and the absence of major festivals in November following a strong October.

“External elements such as elections, a slowdown in coal and cement industries, and weak market sentiment also weighed heavily on this category,” he said.

Going forward he expects that with the prospects of a bumper Kharif harvest is likely to temper food inflation and the broader macroeconomic environment appears will improve, potentially aiding consumer sentiment in the months ahead.

“However, the immediate December outlook derived from dealer feedback is mixed. Category-wise Expectations:

Two-wheelers: Dealers suggest that while some buyers remain hesitant—either awaiting new-year models or influenced by subdued post-festive sentiment—others could be drawn by potential year-end discounts and stable rural demand. Although momentum may not be robust, incremental schemes and easing inflation could lend mild support, placing two-wheeler on a cautiously positive footing.

Passenger vehicles: In the passenger vehicles segment, heavy discounting and improved product availability are expected to help offset weak consumer sentiment and a general year-end lull. While some customers are deferring purchases for new-year models, overall interest could pick up due to aggressive offers and end of year promotions. This sets a tone of cautious optimism, with a moderate chance of improved sales compared to November.

Commercial vehicles: The commercial vehicles category faces a more challenging environment. Factors such as subdued infrastructure activity and customers holding back for newer model-year vehicles continue to dampen demand.

“Nonetheless, selective OEM schemes and year-end offers may provide a limited lift. On balance, while the CV segment’s expectations are not uniformly positive, there is some hope that targeted incentives and stable financing conditions could prevent a sharper decline. In sum, while the near-term outlook for December is not overwhelmingly strong across segments, it leans towards stability with pockets of potential growth, underlining a sentiment that remains overall remains cautiously optimistic.

Representational image: David McBee/Pexels

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Delhi NCR-headquartered electric vehicle maker Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) has announced its first international electric vehicle assembly plant in Jafza, Dubai, which is set to be operational by the end of 2025.

The company said it will invest USD 25 million over the next five years to accelerate its global expansion and meet rising demand for low-emission transport in the region.

The new facility, spread across 42,000 sqft, is claimed to be the first EV plant in Jafza region, which will assemble two-wheelers and three-wheelers. It will also support the storage and distribution of auto components and spare parts for the company.  

OSM aims to leverage the strategic location to serve export markets across the Middle East and Africa region, along with creating 100 jobs in its initial phase.  

Abdulla Al Hashmi, COO, Parks & Zones, DP World GCC, said, “More manufacturers are turning to Jafza to tap high-growth markets across the Middle East, Africa and beyond. With the MENA EV market projected to reach USD 14.5 billion by 2029, driven by supporting government policies, rising demand and expanding infrastructure, this facility brings innovative mobility solutions closer to the region and underlines Dubai’s role as a global hub for the automotive sector.”

Uday Narang, Founder and Chairman, Omega Seiki Mobility, said, “This launch is a proud moment for us and fitting that it comes on Indian Independence Day. Jafza gives us unmatched connectivity to more than 2 billion consumers and a business environment that enables speed, scale and sustainability. Through Dubai, we aim to make clean mobility accessible and commercially viable for partners across the Middle East and Africa.”

Furthermore, the company also is mulling to introduce CNG models for select African region.

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German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has attained another milestone by rolling out the 600,000th Mercedes-Benz G-Class from Graz, Austria. The milestone vehicle is an electric G 580 with EQ Technology finished in obsidian black metallic.

Since its launch in 1979, the G-Class has become a symbol of off-road capability and design. The first G-Models combined off-road performance with on-road comfort and Mercedes' safety standards. In the past four decades, it has evolved while retaining key features such as all-wheel drive, differential locks, and a ladder frame. Design elements like the round headlights and exposed spare wheel remain.

In celebration of its heritage, a limited edition, the G-Class Edition Stronger Than The 1980s, was released last year. This model paid homage to the original W 460 series.

The brand's customisation service, Manufaktur, has seen increasing popularity. Since 2019, over 90 percent of G-Class customers choose at least one Manufaktur option, averaging three per vehicle. Customers can now select from up to 20,000 paint colours, including heritage shades.

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Vietnamese automaker VinFast has officially inaugurated its electric vehicle assembly plant at SIPCOT Industrial Park in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India.

The new facility is VinFast’s third operational plant and the fifth project in its global manufacturing network. It is part of the company’s long-term bet on selling its vehicle in the world’s third-largest automobile market.

The factory is spread across 400 acres and is equipped with state-of-the-art production lines, featuring advanced automation and technologies. The complex houses multiple workshops, including body shop, paint shop, assembly shop, quality control centre, and a logistics hub. It also includes an auxiliary cluster for local contractors, which is expected to expand in the coming years.

The company expects to create around 3,500 jobs for local workers at full capacity, along with several thousand indirect jobs in the supply chain ecosystem. To start with, the company will assembly the VF 7 and VF 6 electric vehicles with a capacity of 50,000 units per annum, which can be scaled upto 150,000 units per annum to meet market demand.

VinFast states with the Tamil Nadu plant on stream, it moves closer to its 2025 sales target of 200,000 vehicles and its long-term production goal of 1 million vehicles per year by 2030.

Pham Sanh Chau, CEO, VinFast Asia, said, “The VinFast Tamil Nadu plant marks a strategic milestone in our long-term commitment to the Indian market. It establishes a strong foundation for sustainable growth and positions us to offer high-quality, competitively priced electric vehicles to Indian consumers. Looking ahead, the facility will expand its production capacity to meet rising demand. We aim to develop it into VinFast’s largest export hub for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. In fact, we've already secured initial orders from several countries across these regions. In close collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government, VinFast is working to transform the area into the 'EV capital of South Asia'—supporting both the dynamic domestic market and our broader regional ambitions.”

Going forward, VinFast aims to further promote localisation, technology transfer and also upskill its workforce.

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Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer NIO has attained a new production milestone with the 800,000^th unit – Onvo L90 – rolling out from its Factory One in Hefei on 24 July 2025.

Since the pre-order started on 10 July, the company shared that the L90 has received widespread interest and recognition from users and the market.

Built on NIO’s decade of investment in the charging and swapping infrastructure, the L90 redefines the family-oriented three-row electric SUV by tackling two major user pain points: charging anxiety and space anxiety.

The test drives for the L90 officially began on 23 July with nearly 600 test drive cars now available at over 400 ONVO stores and showrooms in 140 cities in China. The L90 is set to be officially launched on 31 July, with deliveries starting 1 August.

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