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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Nissan Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has recorded its fourth consecutive month of domestic sales growth in June 2026.

The company reported domestic wholesales of 3,006 units last month, which marks a 129 percent YoY increase. Total wholesales for the month reached 8,346 units, including 5,340 exports, representing a 16 percent YoY rise.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “Recording four consecutive months of domestic sales growth is a strong reflection of the growing customer confidence in our product portfolio and the steady progress of our market strategy. This momentum has been made possible by the continued support of our partners, dealers and on-ground teams, who are playing a vital role in strengthening Nissan’s presence across India. The sustained demand for the New Nissan Magnite and the all-new Nissan GRAVITE, along with our expanding customer reach and network footprint, gives us confidence as we prepare for the World Premiere of the Nissan TEKTON on July 9. This milestone reinforces our long-term commitment to India and to delivering products that meet evolving customer expectations.”

The company is now preparing for the world premiere of the Nissan Tekton, scheduled to be introduced on 9 July 2026.

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has reported its best-ever wholesales for June since it entered the market.

The company recorded wholesales of 24,552 units last month, marking a 19 percent YoY growth compared to the 20,625 units sold in June 2025.

For H1 CY2026, the company dispatched 163,749 units, representing a 15.2 percent YoY growth compared to the 142,139 units sold during the same period in 2025.

Atul Sood, Sr. Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “Closing the first half of the year at a record high with best-ever June sales is a significant milestone for Kia India and reflects the trust customers continue to place in our brand. This performance has been driven by the sustained demand for the new Seltos, Sonet as well as Carens Clavis, while MY26 Syros has also received an encouraging response from customers. It is particularly gratifying to see existing Kia customers upgrading to the New Seltos, reaffirming the strength of our product proposition. The Clavis EV continues to witness positive customer response, supported by favourable government policies promoting EV adoption and our recently introduced Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) program. As we move into the second half of the year, we remain committed to delivering innovative mobility solutions, enriching the ownership experience and driving sustainable growth.”

The company attributed the robust performance to the continued demand for the Seltos, Sonet, Carens, Clavis, and the MY26 Syros. At present, Kia India operates a network of 892 touchpoints across 407 cities, alongside 133 certified pre-owned outlets.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has reported its wholesales for June 2026.

The company sold a total of 147,187 units in the domestic market, which was 24 percent higher YoY, as compared to 118,906 units sold last year.

The growth was witnessed across categories, which saw a sharp rise of 78 percent in demand for the mini vehicle category with sales at 11,416 units, followed by SUV sales uptick of 29 percent YoY at 61,726 units and compact + mid-size segment seeing a 16 percent growth YoY at 63,815 units.

On the other hand, LCV sales came at 2,963 units, up 22 percent YoY, while sales to other OEM (Toyota Kirloskar Motor) saw a drop of 15 percent YoY at 7,472 units.

Exports for the month grew by 13 percent YoY at 42,768 units.

For Q1 FY2027, domestic PV sales grew by 33 percent YoY to 525,228 units, LCVs by 13 percent YoY to 9,579 units and sales to other OEM declined by 20 percent YoY to 23,181 units, respectively.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced its wholesales for June 2026.

The company reported sales of 31,016 units, up 7 percent YoY, as compared to 28,869 units for the same period last year. This includes 28,441 units sold in the domestic market and 2,575 units exported.

For H1 CY2026, the company’s wholesale sales grew by 15 percent YoY to 201,338 units.

For the period from January to June 2026, the company recorded total sales of 201,338 units, reflecting 15% growth over the same period in 2025.

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President, Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “We are encouraged with the positive sales performance in the month of June driven by continued market momentum and a clear focus on customer-centricity. The recently introduced New Innova Crysta with its premium styling and bold new design elements has received an encouraging response for its distinctive appeal and compelling value proposition. Our focus remains on enhancing market presence through high-quality products, value-added services and offering peace of mind, serving as key drivers of growth in the coming months.”

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