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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Spinny, a used car retail platform, has opened new car parks in Sonipat, Karnal and Ambala, increasing its presence in North India. The expansion gives customers in these cities and surrounding regions access to the company’s collection of inspected used cars.

The new car parks are located along the GT Road corridor, improving regional accessibility for customers across the North region.

The new parks function as single destinations where customers can explore, test drive, buy, or sell cars. The expansion aims to serve growing demand for pre-owned vehicles along this corridor, complementing Spinny’s customer base in Delhi NCR and Chandigarh.

Hanish Yadav, Senior Vice-President, Spinny, said, “With our new parks in Sonipat, Karnal and Amabala, we’re excited to bring Spinny’s trusted car experience closer to our customers. These parks not only expand our reach but also make it easier for customers to explore our 200-point inspected cars in person. At Spinny, we’re committed to making every step of buying or selling a car transparent, comfortable, and filled with joy.”

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has launched its ‘Winter Carnival – Service Campaign’ across all authorised Toyota dealerships in Northern India. The campaign runs from November to December 2025.

The initiative aims to enhance customer satisfaction by offering value on services, treatments and genuine accessories during the winter period.

Under the service campaign, the automaker is providing a complimentary 20-point vehicle safety and health check-up, which includes inspection of tyres, batteries, rubber components, lights and fog lamps to ensure performance during winter. Special value packages and offers on essential service parts replacement. Deals on accessories and gifts with the purchase of TGLOSS treatments to keep customer vehicles looking new.

The campaign covers the NCR (National Capital Region), Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Sabari Manohar, Vice-President & Chief Representative – North Region, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “With our Customer-First philosophy, we remain committed to delivering best-in-class service experiences to our valued customers. Drawing from customer insights, we have curated the Awesome Winter Carnival Campaign, featuring customized service value packages designed to keep our customers’ vehicles winter-ready. We are confident that this initiative will further enhance ownership satisfaction and strengthen the joy of driving a Toyota vehicle.”

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has inaugurated its 1,500th Parts and Accessories distributor touchpoint in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

The new facility was inaugurated by S D Chhabra, Executive Officer, Maruti Suzuki India and Kohsuke Hattori, Executive Vice-President - Parts, Accessories and Logistics, Maruti Suzuki India.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Nothing gives customers greater peace of mind than the confidence that they can easily access company-tested and certified parts and accessories nearby. These genuine parts and accessories help maintain performance, safety, and longevity of the vehicle, one of the key reasons why customers continue to choose Maruti Suzuki. To further strengthen this trust, we are expanding our parts and accessories distribution network beyond our already widespread sales and service footprint.”

The automaker’s genuine parts and accessories network plays an important role in the company’s customer-focused ecosystem, complementing its extensive sales and service footprint across India.

It’s network is operated by authorised distributors, comprising warehouses and retail outlets, which are strategically located to provide easy access to genuine, high-quality parts and accessories across the Maruti Suzuki vehicle range.

These touchpoints primarily cater to smaller independent workshops and mechanics.

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In a move designed to enhance organisational agility, Renault Group has appointed Josep Maria Recasens to the newly consolidated role of Chief Strategy, Product & Program Management Officer with immediate effect. This promotion is a key part of the company's broader initiative to streamline its structure and accelerate decision-making. Recasens will now report directly to CEO François Provost and will join the Group’s Leadership Team, positioning him to shape the company's future direction.

His expanded responsibilities will encompass defining Renault’s overarching strategy, guiding critical product choices for the coming years and coordinating the implementation of future vehicle lineups to ensure their market success. While assuming these central corporate duties, Recasens will maintain his current position as CEO for the Iberian Peninsula countries. He will also continue as the CEO of Ampere, Renault's electric vehicle and software entity, until its ongoing transformation is fully complete.

Recasens brings a wealth of automotive industry expertise to this role. An engineer with an MBA, his career began at SEAT S.A. in 2002, where he progressed through roles in research and development, product planning, and international project management, eventually rising to Director of Strategy. He joined Renault in June 2021 as Director of Strategy and Business Development, playing a central role in the Renaulution plan and partnership deployments. His trajectory at Renault has been rapid, including his appointment as Chief Strategy Officer in 2023 and his leadership of Ampere, where he has been instrumental in steering its evolution into an electric and software-focused enterprise.

Provost said, “Since my arrival, I have focused on implementing a simpler, more effective and faster organisation to adapt to the current challenges. Bringing together the strategy, which sets the course, and the Product and Planning, which guides product choices and program directions, is an essential lever for greater coherence and agility. Josep Maria will be in charge of this scope and will take over from Guido Haak, whom I warmly thank for his dedication and years with us. Ampere's ambition remains at the heart of our strategy to provide our customers with innovative electrical and software technologies that are accessible to all.”

Recasens said, "I am very happy to take on this new challenge and grateful for the trust the Group has placed in me. My first priority will be to extend to the entire company a few principles that have made Ampere successful: a strong focus on the product, disciplined programme management and a holistic view of investments. With the support of the Leadership Team, we will adapt, accelerate and deploy these fundamentals to consolidate and amplify the renewed product momentum, and embed this dynamic in a sustainable way at the heart of the Renault Group's strategy.”

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