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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Honda Cars India (HCIL), a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has recorded total sales of 8,082 units in October 2026, supported by domestic dispatches of 7,609 units and export volumes of 473 units.

Domestic sales grew 19 percent YoY compared to 6,394 units recorded in October 2025. Export dispatches for the month stood at 473 units against 4,124 units exported in the corresponding month of the previous year.

The company attributed its domestic volume performance to demand for the updated Honda Elevate SUV alongside its existing passenger vehicle portfolio.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President of Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, "We are delighted with our strong sales performance in October, driven by robust festive demand and positive customer sentiment across our model line-up. The highlight of the month has been the outstanding performance of the New Honda Elevate, which has received an overwhelming response from customers following its recent launch. Its bold new styling, enhanced features and strong SUV appeal have translated into excellent market demand, making it a key contributor to our October sales momentum. The encouraging performance across our portfolio reinforces customer confidence in the Honda brand. We look forward to sustaining this positive momentum in the coming months."

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has registered total sales of 30,360 units in October 2026, comprising 29,521 units in domestic sales and 839 units in exports.

For the calendar year-to-date period of January to October 2026, the automaker reported cumulative sales of 325,274 units, marking a 3 percent increase compared to 315,716 units recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

Domestic sales during the 10-month period expanded 4 percent to 299,140 units, up from 287,338 units in 2025. Exports for the January to October 2026 period stood at 26,134 units compared to 28,378 units in 2025. The company noted initial customer response following the recent launch of the updated Toyota Glanza.

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President of Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "The festive season has continued to generate encouraging customer interest across markets, reflecting the trust in Toyota's products and services. While market conditions continue to evolve, our focus remains firmly on creating value for customers through a diverse product portfolio, enhanced ownership experiences and customer-centric initiatives. We share the joy of festivities with our customers and dealer partners, whose continued confidence in the Toyota brand motivates us to further strengthen our efforts towards delivering reliable, sustainable and accessible mobility solutions."

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, attains its highest-ever monthly sales volume in October 2026, delivering 276,120 units across domestic and export markets. The total sales expanded from 220,894 units recorded in October 2025.

Domestic vehicle dispatches reached an all-time high of 216,789 units for the month, compared to 180,675 units in the corresponding period of the previous year. Passenger car dispatches across the mini, compact and mid-size sub-segments – comprising the Alto, Baleno, Celerio, Ciaz, Dzire, Ignis, S-Presso, Swift, and WagonR – rose to 100,877 units from 85,210 units in October 2025.

SUV dispatches, including the Brezza, Ertiga, e Vitara, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Invicto, Jimny, Victoris and XL6, reached 97,787 units against 77,571 units in the previous year. Sales of the Eeco van accounted for 13,720 units, while Super Carry light commercial vehicle dispatches stood at 4,405 units.

Sales to other original equipment manufacturers (OEM) (Toyota Kirloskar Motor) reached 9,459 units in October 2026, up from 8,915 units in October 2025. Export volumes grew to 49,872 units from 31,304 units recorded in the same month last year.

For the cumulative April to October period of FY 2026-27, Maruti Suzuki reported total sales of 1.65 million units, compared to 1.29 million units in the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, recorded its highest-ever monthly wholesales since entering the Indian market, delivering 33,462 units in October 2026.

This marks a 13.22 percent YoY growth compared to 29,556 units sold in October 2025, surpassing its previous monthly record of 32,017 units set in September 2026.

Interestingly, cumulative wholesales for the company reached 286,470 units between January and October 2026, marking a 21.31 percent increase over the corresponding period in 2025 and exceeding full-year CY2025 sales of 280,286 units.

The Seltos recorded dispatches of over 13,000 units during the month, maintaining an average monthly dispatch above 10,000 units since its update in January 2026. The Sonet, Carens, Carens Clavis and Sorento variants further supported monthly totals.

Electric vehicle dispatches, consisting of the Syros EV and Carens Clavis EV, expanded 31 percent MoM, while CNG models accounted for approximately 10 percent of overall sales in October.

At present, Kia India operates a network of 925 touchpoints across 438 cities, alongside 144 pre-owned vehicle outlets.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President of Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, "Surpassing our previous monthly sales record within just a month to achieve our highest-ever sales of 33,462 units in October reflects the growing trust customers place in Kia and the strength of our products. We were able to ride the positive festive demand momentum, supported by the strong performance of our established models and the encouraging response to our newer offerings, driving the overall growth. The Kia Sorento has received an encouraging market response, with customers appreciating its advanced technology, sophisticated features and the fuel efficiency offered by its Hybrid powertrain. The contribution of our CNG models to overall sales, alongside our highest-ever monthly EV sales, further demonstrates that our multi-powertrain strategy is translating into tangible results. This reinforces our commitment to offering differentiated products and powertrain choices that respond to the diverse mobility needs of Indian customers."

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