SUVs continue their dominant streak as the vehicle of choice across demographics. They have come to account for a 43 percent year-on-year traffic increase across all sub-segments, according to a statement by CarDekho.com.  
Released with an eye on the festive season of 2024, the statement takes a look at the pre-festive season traffic trends across various sub-segments of the four-wheel passenger vehicle industry during the period April-September. 
With SUVs dominating, the statement reads that 58 models are available in the respective segment. Stating that more models are scheduled to be launched in FY2024-25, it underlines the broad range of fuel and engine type combinations, catering to diverse consumer needs and providing tailored options to suit varying preferences.
In the April-September 2024 period, the mass SUV segment led the growth in the automotive market, registering a strong 43 percent year-over-year (YoY) increase in traffic. Its contribution to overall traffic on the platform rose from 50 percent to 63 percent, making it the most dominant body type. 
While all SUV sub-segments displayed significant growth, the compact SUVs (sub-four-metre) sub-segment led the charge in the SUV segment with 37 percent year-on-year growth, increasing their traffic contribution from 32 percent to 38 percent. 
Interesting is the rise in prices of hatchbacks in the Indian market with their average selling price getting close to the average selling price of SUVs. 
This is said to be one of the factors that is leading to a switch to SUVs. With executive SUVs witnessing the highest growth within the SUV category at 47 percent year-on-year increase (their share is rising from 15 percent to 19 percent respectively), the demand for SUVs is expected to rise steadily over the short and mid-term as existing as well as new infrastructure quality continues to be a matter of concern. The quality of infrastructure looks inversely proportional to the rise in toll tax ironically across highways and city roads. 
The midsize SUV sub-segment also performed well with a 31 percent year-on-year increase, as per the CarDekho.com statement.

Mass hatchback segment
In the mass hatchback segment, traffic grew by 28 percent year-on-year, driven largely by premium hatchbacks that make up 86 percent of the total traffic in the respective category. 
Premium hatchbacks experienced a 31 percent year-on-year growth, while mini hatchbacks grew by 20 percent. The micro hatchbacks saw a 22 percent decline in traffic (this includes cars like the Marut Alto).
With a shift in consumer interest away from smaller, ultra-compact vehicles evident, it is the SUVs that seem to benefit from rather than sedans. 
The sedans showed the lowest growth among all body types with an 18 percent year-on-year increase, maintaining a consistent 15 percent share of overall traffic. Despite this, the premium sedan segment saw a significant 65 percent year-on-year growth even though it is driven by just one model. The sub-segment’s contribution remains at only one percent of total site traffic.
“The continued growth of the SUV segment reflects a strong and evolving consumer preference within the automotive industry. SUVs have become the vehicle of choice for a wide range of buyers due to their versatility, enhanced driving comfort, and ability to meet the diverse needs of Indian consumers. Compact SUVs, in particular, have gained significant traction, offering the perfect combination of practicality and performance. As we see this segment expand, it's driving healthy competition, promoting innovation, and ultimately offering a wider range of choices to the Indian consumer. This surge signals a maturing market where consumers are increasingly discerning, pushing the industry to elevate its game across design, features, and value proposition,” said Mayank Jain, CEO, New Auto (CarDekho Group).

Luxury autos
On the luxury brand side, the CarDekho.com statement reads, that traffic rose by 17 percent year-on-year across all model pages. Although luxury vehicles continue to garner interest, their share of total traffic remains relatively low compared to mass market segments, it mentioned.

Image for representative purpose only
 

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Renault India, a subsidiary of the Renault Group, has announced its domestic wholesales of 5,046 units in March 2026, which marks a 77 percent growth compared to the 2,846 units sold last year.

Interestingly, the Kiger and Triber SUVs accounted for 63 percent of the company’s sales last month. Since their launch in the second quarter, the updated Kiger and Triber have contributed to a 27 percent growth rate through the end of the fiscal year.

For FY2026, the company reported total wholesales of 42,018 units, an 11 percent growth over the 37,900 units recorded in FY2025.

The performance follows a product strategy focused on updated vehicle line-ups and value propositions for the Indian market. The dispatch of the Duster signifies the re-entry of the nameplate into the competitive SUV segment, intended to support further volume growth in the 2026-27 financial year.

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Cars24 has announced a collaboration with Tesla India to introduce a trade-in programme designed to facilitate the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). The initiative integrates the sale of an existing car with the purchase of a new Tesla into a single process.

The programme provides a combined exchange benefit of INR 325,000 for customers switching to a Tesla Model Y. This is comprised of an exchange bonus of INR 300,000 to the value of the petrol or diesel vehicle for Tesla. Furthermore, an additional INR 25,000 Cars24 bonus credited to the customer’s bank account upon delivery of the new vehicle.

Tesla has introduced financing structures for the Model Y, including a down payment of INR 600,000 and monthly instalments starting from INR 49,000.

The trade-in process can be initiated at Tesla Experience Centres, or via the Cars24 website and mobile application.

The partnership utilises the digital platform and nationwide reach of Cars24 to manage price discovery and paperwork. The initiative aims to reduce the logistical challenges typically associated with disposing of a conventional vehicle while acquiring an electric model. Tesla’s Model Y, which supports home charging, is the primary focus of this accessibility campaign.

Gajendra Jangid, Co-Founder and CMO, Cars24, said, “At Cars24, our focus has always been on simplifying car transactions. Partnering Collaborating with Tesla allows us to extend that convenience to customers transitioning to electric vehicles, managing everything from price discovery to payment and ownership transfer.”

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Kia India, a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has recorded its highest-ever monthly wholesale volume for March, reaching 29,112 units, which marks a 14.5 percent YoY growth compared to the 25,525 units sold in March 2025.

The company also achieved its strongest quarterly performance to date, with Q1 2026 sales totalling 84,316 units, an 11.6 percent increase over the previous year.

Kia India attributed the robust growth led by the Seltos SUV, which has maintained monthly sales of over 10,000 units since its launch. The model is the highest-scoring internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle in India to date, following a 5-star BNCAP safety rating.

At present, Kia India has a network of 862 touchpoints across 390 cities. The company’s infrastructure includes 124 Certified Pre-Owned outlets to facilitate vehicle exchanges and secondary market sales. Future strategy focuses on a mix of product interventions and market expansion to maintain current momentum.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “We delivered our best-ever March sales and strongest-ever quarterly performance, driven by sustained demand across our portfolio. The new Seltos, backed by its 5-star BNCAP rating, continues to lead momentum, while Sonet and Carens line-up remain steady volume drivers with continuous enhancements aligned to evolving customer needs.”

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Czech automaker Skoda Auto India has recorded its highest-ever quarterly sales, with 20,028 units sold in Q1 CY2026, which marks a 17 percent increase compared to 17,138 vehicles sold a year ago.

The sales growth was supported by the Kylaq, which recently surpassed the 50,000-unit sales milestone. Other contributors to the quarterly volume include the recently updated Kushaq, the Slavia sedan and the Kodiaq in the premium SUV segment.

The company has expanded its domestic presence to 330 customer touchpoints across more than 180 cities. This infrastructure growth is intended to support both established urban centres and emerging regional markets.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “Continuing our growth surge into 2026 with our biggest-ever quarter is a strong validation of the momentum we have built over the past year. After achieving a record in 2025, it is encouraging to see that we are sustaining this trajectory while also setting new benchmarks for ourselves. This growth is driven by a combination of a stronger and more accessible product portfolio, deeper market reach, and a sharper focus on customer-centric initiatives. The Kylaq continues to take the brand to newer customers and regions, and the new Kushaq that was recently introduced has made its mark. Meanwhile, the Slavia and Kodiaq continue to drive consistent demand in their segments. As we move ahead, we remain focused on maintaining this momentum with consistent execution by launching relevant products, expanding our network, and enhancing the overall ownership experience.”

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