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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TAFE Motors and Tractors has opened its DEUTZ engine production facility at its manufacturing plant in Alwar, Rajasthan. The facility was inaugurated by Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister for Industry & Commerce, Government of Rajasthan.

Under a licensing agreement with DEUTZ, TAFE Motors will manufacture 2.2-litre and 2.9-litre engines for domestic and international markets, targeting an annual production capacity of 35,000 engines and 50,000 sub-assemblies. The manufacturing setup incorporates Industry 4.0-enabled systems and digital connectivity.

Rajasthan’s Cabinet Minister, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, while addressing the gathering lauded TAFE's investment in the state, said, “TAFE’s new production facility at Alwar is a strong endorsement of Rajasthan's emergence as a preferred manufacturing destination and exemplifies the vision of 'Made in Rajasthan for the World' while contributing to the national goal of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. I reaffirm the state's commitment to fostering a business-friendly ecosystem through progressive policies and ease of doing business. I also commend TAFE’s Chairman & Managing Director, Mallika Srinivasan for her visionary leadership and contributions to nation-building, and I appreciate the commitment of TAFE's workforce, supply chain partners, and next-generation leadership in driving innovation, skilling, and empowering India's farmers through world-class technology and manufacturing excellence”

Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & Managing Director, TAFE, said, "Today marks a defining milestone in TAFE's growth journey. TAFE and the Amalgamations Group, together are one of India’s largest engine manufacturing ecosystems, with a production capacity projected to expand from 400,000 to 550,000 engines annually by 2030.”

She added, “Our partnership with DEUTZ, one of Europe's premier engine manufacturers and a pioneer in diesel engine technology brings together the precision of German engineering and the strength of India's manufacturing capabilities. This venture will also serve as a growth catalyst for the allied engineering industries in Rajasthan, further strengthening the state's position as a manufacturing hub. We extend our gratitude to the Government of Rajasthan for the continued support in enabling this landmark initiative."

Dr Lakshmi Venu, Vice Chairman, TAFE, said, " India's manufacturing sector is entering a new phase, driven by technology, operational excellence and globally benchmarked capabilities. The TAFE Motors - Deutz production facility reflects our commitment to and investments in, advanced manufacturing rigorous quality systems and continuous capability development that will enable us to respond to an evolving India and International market demand. With a 40 percent women workforce, the TAFE-DEUTZ production facility continues to advance gender diversity goals."

Sandeep Sinha, Chief Executive Officer, TAFE, said, " The TAFE-Deutz facility integrates high levels of automation across manufacturing, testing and logistics, along with vision systems, robotics and cobots for critical assembly functions and reaffirms our ability to manufacture world-class products at scale. We are creating a world-class platform that will deliver exceptional value to customers in India and across international markets. Further, the facility also incorporates a state-of-the art engine testing and an advanced quality laboratory with complete digital traceability to ensure global quality standards."

Dr. Sebastian Schulte, Chief Executive Officer, Deutz, said, “The inauguration of the new DEUTZ engine assembly line in Alwar marks an important milestone in our cooperation with TAFE. It reflects the commitment and strong collaboration of both teams in turning our shared vision into industrial reality.”

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Czech automaker Skoda Auto has produced its one millionth Karoq SUV - a Karoq 1.5 TSI 110 kW finished in Graphite Grey - from its Kvasiny plant.

Since its launch in 2017, the Karoq has been built at the Kvasiny facility, which also produces the Octavia and Kodiaq, and maintains an annual production capacity exceeding 300,000 vehicles. The successor model is scheduled to be unveiled by CY2028.

Andreas Dick, Responsible for Production and Logistics at Skoda Auto, said, “Since production began in 2017, the Skoda Karoq has become an established part of our portfolio and an especially important model for the Kvasiny plant. Reaching the one-million mark reflects the commitment and teamwork of many people over the years. I would like to thank all colleagues in Kvasiny for their dedication, as well as our social partner KOVO for our long-standing, constructive and trusted cooperation.”

The Karoq is sold in around 60 markets, with Germany, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom serving as its primary markets. The model range includes petrol and diesel engines with power outputs ranging from 85 to 140 kW. As per the company, 73 percent of Karoq buyers select an automatic transmission, while 27 percent choose a manual transmission.

In 2025, the Kvasiny plant manufactured 301,500 vehicles, and production of the Octavia Combi was added to the site in May 2026.

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Zelio E-Mobility, an electric two-wheeler company, has opened its new manufacturing facility in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The company invested up to INR 10 million in the site.

The new plant will support its expansion in South India is spread across 39,000 sqft and will be used for assembly, storage and logistics operations. The facility has an annual production capacity of 60,000 units, increasing the company's total manufacturing capacity to 240,000 units per annum.

Production is expected to start with 24,000–30,000 units annually before scaling to meet market demand. The plant currently employs 30 workers, with plans to add over 100 personnel.

Kunal Arya, Managing Director, Zelio E-Mobility, said, “The launch of our Coimbatore facility marks a major milestone in Zelio E-Mobility’s growth journey. South India represents one of the most promising electric mobility markets in the country, and this expansion strengthens our ability to serve customers, dealers, and partners with greater speed and efficiency. This facility will play a crucial role in supporting our next phase of growth, improving supply chain responsiveness, and reinforcing our commitment to accelerating EV adoption across India.”

For FY2026, Zelio E-Mobility reported its revenue grew 81.8 percent YoY to INR 3.13 billion in FY2025–26, with a revenue CAGR of 121 percent over the past four years.

The company maintains a network of over 400 dealers across 25 states and intends to increase this to over 550 dealerships by FY2027.

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Renault Group has reached the milestone of producing one million electric vehicles in France. This achievement, spanning 15-years of manufacturing, reflects the company’s focus on the electric vehicle value chain within the country.

The company’s electric vehicle production began in 2010 with models such as the ZOE and Kangoo ZE. Production now includes light commercial vehicles like the Trafic Van E-Tech electric and the Master E-Tech electric. The group plans to introduce a Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) in the commercial segment with the launch of the New Trafic E-Tech electric in late 2026.

Francois Provost, CEO, Renault Group, said, “The milestone of one million electric vehicles produced by Renault Group in France is, above all, a source of collective pride: pride in our teams and suppliers who build them, pride in our customers who choose them, and pride in a Group that has made a long-term commitment to France. Since 2021, we have invested EUR 13 billion to build the electric vehicle value chain across our operations in France. Provided the right conditions are in place, we plan to invest a further EUR 13 billion as part of our mid-term plan, futuREady.”

In the industrial hub of Electricity, which encompasses sites in Douai and Maubeuge, the company has produced 600,000 electric vehicles. The Renault 5 E-Tech electric, produced at this hub, reached a production figure of 100,000 units by end-2025 and is projected to exceed 200,000 units this year. The Maubeuge facility also produces the Renault 4 E-Tech electric.

To support this growth, the hub has created 700 permanent jobs between 2022 and 2025, with an additional 300 positions expected by 2027. The northern production sites are multi-brand, manufacturing vehicles for Renault, Alpine, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Ford.

Beyond production, Renault Group has implemented an internal training programme called Reknow University, which has trained 53,000 employees in areas including electrification, battery technology, artificial intelligence, and the circular economy. The company notes that its electric vehicle operations support 35,000 indirect jobs within its supplier network.

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