The automotive retail sales in India is back in the green, and for October 2024, the convergence of Navratri and Diwali has helped register robust growth across segments.

According to the latest data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), a total of 2.8 million vehicles were registered last month, up 32.14 percent YoY, compared to 2.14 million vehicles sold last year.

This included 2 million two-wheelers (+36.34 percent YoY); 122,846 three-wheelers (+11.45 percent YoY); 483,159 passenger vehicles (+32.38 percent YoY); 64,433 tractors (+3.08 percent YoY) and 97,411 commercial vehicles (+6.37 percent YoY).

C S Vigneshwar, President, FADA stated that festivities traditionally account for 30–35 percent of total annual auto sales. The industry was keenly observing how October would unfold.

He said, “With dealers entering this crucial period fully committed and carrying all-time high inventory levels, the month did not disappoint!”

FADA shared that the rural market once again played a leading role in driving growth, particularly in the two-wheeler and passenger vehicle segments. Additionally, the Government of India's announcement of an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Rabi crops further boosted market sentiments.

The two-wheeler sales were driven by festive schemes, discounts along with new model launches that drove consumer interest. The dealers were able to support the demand on the back of better stock availability and suppliers from OEMs.

In the passenger vehicle segment too, aggressive offers, attractive schemes and new model introductions further stimulated demand.

“Enhanced vehicle availability and strong market interest, especially for SUVs and new products, also contributed to the exceptional sales. However, despite strong sales, PV OEMs continue to heavily stock dealers, resulting in inventory levels decreasing by only five days, with overall inventory still at a high of 75–80 days. This may thus lead the season of substantial discounts to continue until the end of the calendar year,” cautioned Vigneshwar.

The commercial vehicle segment growth was driven by various factors such as supportive agricultural markets and bulk purchases, particularly for container movements.

FADA states that however dealers faced challenges such as slow demand, sluggish construction activities, financial issues among customers and increased vehicle prices leading to higher EMIs.

“Overall, while there were areas of growth, the CV market faced headwinds that tempered its overall performance,” he shared.

Great Indian wedding

While the automotive industry has been seeing a mixed results in terms of retail demand, the expectation for the rest of the calendar year remains positive. An estimated 4.8 million weddings are scheduled across the country in November and December 2024. This is expected to bring an ‘unprecedented surge’ in demand for wedding-related goods and services.

For the automotive industry this could further amplify demand for two-wheelers and passenger vehicles. In the CV segment, while supportive agricultural markets and continued bulk purchases may contribute positively, dealers remain vigilant due to factors like sluggish construction activities, financial constraints among customers and an anticipated decrease in demand post-festivities.

But on the other hand, for the passenger vehicle segment, there are apprehensions about potential slowdowns caused by customers postponing purchases in anticipation of better year-end discounts. FADA also urges, PV OEMs to further rationalise supply.

The auto retail body states that while the industry is optimistic about near-term growth driven by the wedding season and favourable market conditions, dealers are mindful of potential challenges that could affect sales momentum as the year concludes.

‘The mixed sentiments reflected in the survey highlight the need for strategic planning and cautious optimism as the auto sector navigates the remaining months of the year,’ the note concluded.

Representational image courtesy: TomFlick/Pexels

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Maruti Suzuki India is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its compact SUV, the Brezza. Launched in 2016, the model has remained among the top 10 bestselling passenger vehicles in India for a decade and has contributed to the compact SUV segment's 31 percent share of the current market.

The Brezza has transitioned through two generations since its debut. In its first year, the vehicle received 28 automotive awards, including the Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2017. The company data indicates that 56 percent of its buyers consider the model their predetermined choice during the purchasing process.

The current generation is equipped with a 1.5L petrol engine featuring Progressive Smart Hybrid Technology. It is available with a six-speed automatic transmission and steering-mounted paddle shifters.

Standard and available features include:

• Safety: Six airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and Hill Hold Assist.
• Technology: 360-view camera, Head-Up Display (HUD), and Smart Play Pro+ infotainment.
• Cabin: Electric sunroof and surround sound audio.

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The Brezza story is one that has empowered the SUV era in India. Conceptualised, designed and developed with new-age customer aspirations, the Brezza’s authentic SUV DNA and feature-loaded cabin have constantly redefined customer expectations with each new model launch. As we reflect on its journey through the decade on its 10th anniversary, it’s worth noting that the Brezza has not just consistently retained its position as India’s most loved SUV; it has also steadily expanded the market share for the entire compact SUV segment to 31 percent contribution to today.”

“The Brezza name today is synonymous with SUVs and continues to command strong brand consideration, with 56 percent of customers considering it as their predetermined choice. We at Maruti Suzuki are deeply thankful to our customers for making the Brezza their SUV of choice for a decade. We remain committed to offering our customers the perfect blend of style, technology, performance, and appeal that wins brand love,” he added.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, is seeing retail sales growth along with robust export performance.

The company is seeing rising traction across its product portfolio, including demand for hatchbacks, SUVs and CNG models, even as it operates at nearly full capacity across plants.

For February, the company clocked total sales of 214,000 units, marking its highest-ever monthly performance across domestic and export markets. Overall wholesales for the month stood at an all-time high of 264,000 units, the highest in the company’s 40-year history. Retail sales touched 150,000 lakh units, up 12 percent YoY, with channel inventory maintained at a lean 12 days, including seven days of transit stock.

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer – Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said “We are currently operating at close to 100 percent capacity, with a new production line commissioned in April and scaling up from May. “Despite the capacity constrain, we have delivered an all-time high retail performance and are seeing robust bookings of 190,000 units, growing at around 20 percent,” he noted.

SUV Surge Lifts Market Share

A key growth driver has been the company’s sharper focus on higher-value vehicles, particularly in the mid-SUV segment. Maruti Suzuki has doubled its monthly SUV volumes from an average of 10,000 units in FY2024-25 to around 20,000 units currently. Its market share in the SUV segment has expanded from 12.8 percent to 19 percent.

Industry passenger vehicle wholesales stood at 381,665 units in February, with expectations of 420,000–450,000 units in the coming months. While the broader industry is projected to grow 11–12 percent, Maruti Suzuki’s retail growth of 12 percent has enabled it to gain share, reaching 40.06 percent on the Vahan portal. The company said it has gained market share following the recent GST revision, despite production constraints.

To reduce waiting periods and balance demand across models, the company is calibrating production. Waiting periods for SUVs have increased by two to three days, while the WagonR continues to see over a month’s wait. Capacity additions at the Kharkhoda plant are expected to gradually add 100,000–120,000 units annually, supporting production of two to three models and easing pressure across segments.

CNG Momentum Continues

CNG models remain a strong pillar of growth. CNG penetration stood at nearly 44 percent in February and close to 40 percent for FY2026 (up to February). The company has sold 670,000 CNG vehicles so far this fiscal, reflecting 18.2 percent growth.

Banerjee highlighted the success of the S-CNG portfolio, including the Victoris under-body CNG kit, as a key contributor to this expansion.

Exports Hit Target Early

On the exports front, the company dispatched over 39,000 units in February, up 56.5 percent YoY. For FY2026 (April 2025 to February 2026) exports have crossed 400,000 units, marking 33.7 percent growth and enabling the company to achieve its full-year export target ahead of schedule.

Rahul Bharti, Executive Director – Corporate Affairs, noted that while the overall passenger vehicle industry’s exports grew around 7 percent till January, Maruti Suzuki’s exports expanded by over 30 percent, rising above 33 percent in February. The company now exports to over 100 countries.

The eVitara has emerged as a strong export performer, crossing 21,000 units across more than 39 countries, including the UK, Denmark and Germany. The company said it is dispatching one eVitara to every Nexa outlet and increasing test-drive vehicles to meet rising customer enquiries, which are running at nearly 2,000 per day.

Addressing concerns around geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Bharti said the company’s export exposure to the region stands at around 12.5 percent in FY2026. “Our export portfolio is well diversified. We are not just increasing exports, but doing so in a broad-based manner to de-risk ourselves. We continue to monitor the situation,” he said.

For FY2026, Maruti Suzuki India remains on track to achieve total sales of 2.2 million units, including domestic sales, exports and supplies to other OEMs. Additional capacity enhancement at its Gujarat facility from July will support electric vehicle production, while the ramp-up at Kharkhoda is expected to ease supply constraints across the portfolio.

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Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles has announced its sales results for February 2026, recording total sales of 63,331 units, marking a 35 percent YoY growth, compared to the 46,811 units sold in February 2025.

Domestic passenger vehicle (PV) sales reached 62,329 units, a 34 percent rise over the 46,435 units recorded in the same month last year. International business (IB) for the segment saw the highest rate of growth, increasing by 167 percent to 1,002 units.

The total sales figures include the performance of Tata Passenger Electric Mobility. Combined domestic and international electric vehicle (EV) sales stood at 8,385 units for February 2026, which marks a 57 percent increase from the 5,343 units sold in February 2025.

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JSW MG Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has reported its wholesales of 4,957 units in February 2026, up 24 percent YoY.

The company attributed the demand to the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) portfolio. During the period, the company introduced India’s first D+ SUV – the MG Majestor.

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